Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has praised the efforts of pacer Mohammed Siraj in the second Test against the West Indies at New Delhi. The 39-year-old said that the Hyderabad fast bowler continued to run in, even when the pitch did not offer much assistance.
Siraj had a match haul of 3/59 in 24 overs as India opted to rely on their spinners to do the bulk of the bowling to try and take 20 West Indies wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.
“I want to compliment Mohammed Siraj. On this wicket, there wasn’t much help, but Siraj bent his back and kept coming again and again.
Bumrah did get wickets in the end, but it’s Siraj’s effort that needs to be applauded. Just like his bowling in England, he put efforts in these conditions as well. First-class cricket can be tough for fast bowlers, especially if you bowl on day four, fast bowlers never recover in a three-day break. Still, Siraj kept going, using innovative fields, so he deserves credit,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel “Ash Ki Baat”.
“In this series Indian fast bowlers played a role. They do have a role. Indian fast bowlers have generally refrained from bowling bouncers because they have a better idea of bowling in the sub-continent. We do a little bit more with the ball. We bring reverse swing and LBW into play,” he added.
Ashwin also urged the team management to give more freedom to Kuldeep Yadav, who he felt had to continue playing the role of an attacking bowler in the XI, with others around offering support to him.
“Kuldeep will get a wicket in one spell and he will be able to open it up. Even in the second innings he did that. He should be given that freedom. But the others should be able to compliment Kuldeep in a way that he can still continue being that attacking option,” he said.
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The 30-year-old was awarded the Player of the Match for his match figures of 8/186, which included a five-wicket haul in the first innings. This was Kuldeep’s first series in Tests since he played against New Zealand in Bengaluru in October last year.
