Travis Head made 140 in 141 balls helping Australia to 337 runs.
Sunil Gavaskar, the former India cricketer, believes Mohammed Siraj's angry dismissal of Travis Head on Day 2 of the second Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval was 'unnecessary'.
Notably, Siraj dismissed Head for 140 (141), thrashing his stumps with a yorker. Following his dismissal, the Indian fast bowler spoke a few words to Head to send him out, and the Australian batsman reciprocated.
Following the incident, even the on-field umpires spoke with Siraj. However, the event irritated Sunil Gavaskar, who chastised Siraj for his theatrics and felt they were needless.
The legendary India batter further called Head a local hero and mentioned that Siraj didn’t get him out for one or two to go overboard with his celebration.
“Unnecessary, if you ask me, the man's got 140, he hasn't got four or five or something. You got 140 you're giving him a send-off totally uncalled for totally uncalled for. No wonder he's getting the stick from the crowd. He's a local hero, Travis Head is a local hero and after scoring 100, if he had even just applauded, Siraj would have been a hero for the entire crowd, instead of giving him a send-off, he's become the villain. Look, the man's got 140, like I said, if he got out for one or two, then you give him a send-off in a completely different,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports.
Matthew Hayden, a former Australian cricketer, also commented on the incident, claiming that Siraj's emotions took over.
“It was probably just a little bit of emotion and passion from Siraj who'd bowled his heart out as well. So you've got to play and read the tea leaves and when you're a local hero, you've just made 140. I can tell you what you just gotta know how to be humble,” said Hayden.
Australia managed to score 337 in the first innings and took a 157-run lead against India. Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) picked up four wickets each.