India ex-off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised the effort of pacer Mohammed Siraj in the second test against the West Indies in New Delhi. The 39-year-old complemented the Hyderabad fast bowler on the dedication that he shows to running as the pitch was offering minimal assistance to the seamers.
Siraj played a commendable role and ended with 24 over match figures of 3/59. Although the Arun Jaitley Stadium offered good conditions, India had to depend on its spin attack that saw it claim 20 wickets of the West Indies. Nevertheless, Siraj bowled and remained passionately enthusiastic, which made the pace department efficient during the game.
“I want to compliment Mohammed Siraj. On this wicket, there wasn’t much help, but Siraj bent his back and kept coming again and again. Bumrah did get wickets in the end, but it’s Siraj’s effort that needs to be applauded. Just like his bowling in England, he put efforts in these conditions as well. First-class cricket can be tough for fast bowlers, especially if you bowl on day four, fast bowlers never recover in a three-day break. Still, Siraj kept going, using innovative fields, so he deserves credit,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel Ash Ki Baat.
“In this series Indian fast bowlers played a role. They do have a role. Indian fast bowlers have generally refrained from bowling bouncers because they have a better idea of bowling in the sub-continent. They do a little bit more with the ball. They bring reverse swing and lbw into play.”
Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin urges team management to give Kuldeep Yadav more freedom
Ashwin also requested the team management to provide more leeway to Kuldeep Yadav by saying that the left arm wristspinner must remain to play his natural attacking role in the XI. He said that it is due to Kuldeep that they are able to take the wickets on a regular basis and the rest of the bowlers in the team have the responsibility to assist him in that regard by keeping the other end under control.
“Kuldeep will get a wicket in one spell and he will be able to open it up. Even in the second innings he did that. He should be given that freedom. But the others should be able to compliment Kuldeep in a way that he can still continue being that attacking option,” Ashwin said.
Ashwin also requested the team management to provide more leeway to Kuldeep Yadav by saying that the left arm wristspinner must remain to play his natural attacking role in the XI. He said that it is due to Kuldeep that they are able to take the wickets on a regular basis and the rest of the bowlers in the team have the responsibility to assist him in that regard by keeping the other end under control.
