Mohammed Siraj has once again demonstrated his unwavering love and respect for Jasprit Bumrah, his senior pace bowling partner. This came at the end of day two of the ongoing fifth and final Test between India and England being played at the Oval.
In the lead-up to the match, Siraj disclosed that the Hyderabadi requested Bumrah to stop while he was leaving the team, stating that if it wasn't his Jassi bhai, he would hug someone after taking five wickets.
On July 31, Bumrah was dropped from the team after being rested for the series' last Test. Despite not taking many wickets in the first innings, Siraj's outstanding four-wicket haul helped India bowl England out for 247, in response to India’s 224 runs.
“Jassi bhai ko ye bola tha, bhaiya aap ja kyu rahe ho? Mai 5 wicket leke aake kisko hug karu? Toh unhone bola mai hu idhar hi, tu bas 5 wicket lele. (I asked Jassi, brother, why are you going? Who’ll I come to hug when I take a five-wicket haul? He just said, ‘I am here, you go and take five wickets’)" Siraj revealed in a video on the BCCI.tv after the day’s play.
Prasidh Krishna, who filled in for Bumrah by taking four wickets in the innings, discussed the fast-bowling group in the same video.
“Booms has been a great, great part of this. I think it’s really important for us to enjoy each other. When you are on the field, you are speaking to each other and have that trust. That trust is only going to make the team better," Prasidh said.
Here is the video:
In order to preserve Bumrah's long-term fitness, the BCCI medical panel determined that he could only play three Test matches in the series. In the first, third, and fourth games, he played.
‘I and Siraj, we have been playing a lot for five years now. I played with him a lot in the IPL as well. We sit together a lot, spend a lot of time together. Same with Akash Deep. I think the fast-bowling unit is looking pretty good," Prasidh added.
In response, the visitors hit 75/2, giving Stumps a 52-run lead. Although it won't be simple on the fast-paced green field at the Oval, they would strive for any number above 250.
