Team India scripted an epic comeback after the Adelaide debacle where they were all out for 36 runs before emerging as the winner of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy back-to-back. Mohammed Siraj revealed what head coach Ravi Shastri said after that humiliating defeat to motivate the team.
Though people expected the pink-ball Test in Adelaide to be a huge challenge, no one predicted that the team would be bundled out for just 36 runs in the second innings. After the defeat and losing senior cricketers one by one, the young side showed immense courage to lead the fightback and unfold history in the land of the Kangaroos.
Ravi Shastri motivated the entire side – Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj, who made his Test debut in Australia and also finished as the highest wicket-taker for India, narrated how head coach Ravi Shastri motivated the team after the 36 all-out debacle.
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“Ravi Shastri said that 36 all-out happens only once in cricket, it will never happen again. The team atmosphere was brilliant. I know Arun sir since my domestic days, his role has been very important in my career. He knew what I could do. Ajinkya Rahane trusted me and I stood up to his trust. I enjoyed a lot,” Mohammed Siraj said at Sports Today.
The pace attack was piled up with injuries as the series progressed with Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, and Jasprit Bumrah missing one or more matches. It left with Siraj, who made his debut in the second game became the most experienced fast bowler in the side in the fourth Tests.
Admitting that it was a huge challenge to don the senior pacer’s hat, Siraj further shared his strategy at the Gabba that saw him bag his maiden fifer.
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“It was challenging to lead the pace attack in my third test match. My plan was not to take wicket but to build pressure by bowling dot balls, The plan was to bring the batsman under pressure and make him make some mistakes. I bowled well in the first innings but I did not get much wickets, I was upset in the dressing room.
But Bharat Arun sir said that I bowled better than expected, he said my bowling was extraordinary and that I was not being judged for not taking wickets. He said Test cricket is like that, you did not get many wickets today but can get them tomorrow and I got rewarded in the 2nd innings,” Mohammed Siraj said.
