The Indian bowling unit put up a dominant show on Day 2 of the ongoing second Test against New Zealand in Mumbai after Ajaz Patel’s perfect 10-fer. In response to hosts’ 325, the visitors got bundled out for a mere 62 – their lowest score against India in Test cricket.
The New Zealand batting group fell like a pack of cards, and it was pacer Mohammed Siraj who provided the scintillating start to his side. The right-armer lit up the Wankhede Stadium by claiming the first three wickets, reducing the tourists for 17/3 in 5.1 overs.
Siraj bowled exceptionally well during his short-yet-impactful spell of four overs to send back as many as three Black Caps batters back into the stadium. Among the three scalps that Siraj took, Ross Taylor’s dismissal grabbed maximum eyeballs.
It all happened during the sixth over of New Zealand’s first innings when Siraj bowled a good length delivery that nipped away and forced Taylor to play on the front foot, and his off-stump went for a walk.
After the end of the second day’s play, Siraj shared his thoughts on his game plan and termed Taylor’s dismissal as ‘a dream delivery for any fast bowler’.
“The plan was that we had set the field for an inswing delivery and aimed to hit the pads, but the way I was building my rhythm, I thought why not bowl an outswing. It was a dream delivery for any fast bowler,” said Siraj in the post-match presser.
The Hyderabad pacer, who missed out on the series opener in Kanpur, revealed he was preparing hard in the nets and consistently hitting the ball in one area to get his rhythm.
“When I resumed training after getting injured, I did a lot of single wicket bowling, intending to get as much swing as possible. That was my focus. As and when I would get a chance in the Test match, I had to hit one area consistently, and that’s what helps me in building my rhythm,” added Siraj.
