Over the last few years, the younger generation of the Indian team has restored to – giving it back to the opposition – brand of aggression. Recently, India’s pacer Mohammed Siraj gave a “shush” sendoff to the English batsmen.
India’s wicket-keeper batsman and commentator Dinesh Karthik said that he loves the brand of cricket that this Indian team plays, but Siraj’s sendoff was unnecessary. In a column for The Telegraph, Dinesh Karthik wrote,
“I love the brand of cricket portrayed by this team. Players are unafraid to engage their opponents in verbals, like Siraj and KL Rahul did. This is a new-age India, armed with the license to bring out its personality. I do feel it was unnecessary for Siraj to shush batsmen after dismissing them. You have already won the battle, why resort to this? That’s one learning for Siraj early in his international career.”
Mohammad Siraj's celebration after dismissing Jonny Bairstow. pic.twitter.com/LkYh3Fiux9
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) August 7, 2021
“Aggression manifests itself in different ways. For some like Virat, Siraj, and Rahul, it could be open and in-your-face. I can’t see senior batsmen Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane singing that tune, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t aggressive. Their intent can radiate through a beautifully judged leave, an impeccable defensive stroke, a cracking cover-drive. Players quickly realize what works for them. You must be true to yourself, but also mindful that the existing regulations are not transgressed,” he further added.
IPL has given the pacers a fillip: Dinesh Karthik
Dinesh Karthik also stressed the impact of IPL in building a formidable pace attack for India at the highest level. At this moment, India’s fast bowling attack is considered to be one of the best in the world. Karthik wrote,
“Cricket being a winter sport in India, bowlers would snaffle wickets in helpful conditions but were found wanting at the highest level. Thanks to the IPL and India ‘A’, they are able to cross the bridge that much faster, as evidenced by the successes of Jasprit Bumrah, in the main, as well as Shardul Thakur and Siraj. I would go so far as to say that the last Indian pacer to emerge from beyond the IPL landscape was Mohammed Shami, back in 2013.”