Batting Great Sunil Gavaskar has urged India National Cricket Team pacer Mohammed Siraj to support Jasprit Bumrah in the remainder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. He said that the fast bowler needs to step up; otherwise, all the load will be on the vice-captain of the team.
India National Cricket Team is fighting hard in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. But one of the things that is concerning for them is the lack of support that Jasprit Bumrah is getting. Although Mohammed Siraj has been amongst the wickets, he hasn’t been that much effective.
Mohammed Siraj has failed to provide support to Jasprit Bumrah in the ongoing BGT 2024-25
Mohammed Siraj, who is rated as one of the best Indian pacers, has failed to provide support to Jasprit Bumrah. The speedster in the two games has also been taken for runs and has looked far away from his best, which was the main reason why India lost the second game of the series.
Siraj has failed to apply pressure on the batters, especially with Jasprit Bumrah getting wickets at the other end. Him not living up to the expectations has been the main reason why the team has struggled in some phases, but he would want to correct that going ahead.
Mohammed Siraj is a good foil, but he has to start getting five wickets in an innings – Sunil Gavaskar
Sunil Gavaskar stressed the same, saying that Mohammed Siraj needs to step up and pick two or three wickets and break the partnerships to help Jasprit Bumrah. Speaking to Star Sports ahead of the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, he explained:
“Mohammed Siraj is a good foil, but he has to start getting five wickets in an innings. Otherwise, the load is being picked up mainly by Jasprit Bumrah. But if Siraj can pick up two, three wickets, keep on breaking partnerships, then he certainly helps Jasprit Bumrah.”
Maybe he just couldn’t find his rhythm and, therefore was not bowling the length that he should have – Sunil Gavaskar on Harshit Rana struggling in Adelaide
Sunil Gavaskar also stressed the fact that Harshit Rana wasn’t impressive in the second game. He claimed that the pacer, being a newcomer, couldn’t find his rhythm and stressed that if other pacers contributed, it would take a load off Bumrah. He added:
“Harshit Rana, the newcomer, bowled impressively in Perth but wasn’t as impressive in the second game at Adelaide. Maybe he just couldn’t find his rhythm and, therefore was not bowling the length that he should have, or the line that he should have.
“But hopefully, he would have learned. And then that makes it easy. It takes the load off Bumrah. Bumrah can then come in, in short bursts of four or five overs, and be much more effective.”
The third Test between the India National Cricket Team and the Australia National Cricket Team will be played from Saturday (14th December). The series between the two teams currently stays leveled at 1-1.