AUS v IND 2020-21: Jadeja reveals why Rahane didn't bowl Siraj in the first session on day 1

Siraj made his India debut in Test cricket in the Boxing Day match at MCG.

Mohammed Siraj | GETTY

India's stand-in captain Ajinkya Rahane's decision to not use pacer Mohammed Siraj on day one's first session against Australia surprised many people. Siraj made his Test debut for India in the Boxing Day Test but got to bowl even after spinner R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.

Ashwin got the breakthrough with some assistance from the pitch. He removed Matthew Wade and the valuable wicket of Steve Smith in the first session. 

Jadeja, on the pre-match show on Sony Sports Network, revealed Rahane had told him to bowl a few overs before lunch after looking at the dampness on the pitch. 

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“Bowlers were spot on (on Day 1), they were getting wickets in every interval. The wicket was damp, the ball was turning so (Ajinkya) Rahane threw the ball told me to get ready and bowl a few overs before lunch,” said Jadeja.

Although Jadeja couldn't produce a wicket, he did put pressure from the other end as Ashwin was already looking like a big threat to the Aussies. 

Siraj got to bowl in the second session of the first day and he returned with two wickets. He dismissed Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green as Australia got bowled out on 195.

 
 

By - 27 Dec, 2020

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