The humorous anecdote shared by Mohammed Siraj about his Test debut against Australia at the MCG in the 2020 Boxing Day Test has gone viral. Siraj was given his first Test appearance when India was trailing the series 1-0 after being dismissed for a paltry 36 in the first Test at Adelaide. Furthermore, the Indian team faced the news that skipper Virat Kohli had to return home due to personal reasons, while Mohammad Shami suffered an injury during the series opener. As a result, Ajinkya Rahane gave Siraj a chance to make his debut in the team under his leadership.
However, Siraj had to wait a long time to bowl his first over in the longest format as he was not given the bowl until the second session. He made a lighthearted comment during a chat with Gaurav Kapoor on Breakfast with Champions that he wondered if he was brought in as a replacement for Virat Kohli since he didn’t bowl a single over in the first session.
Nonetheless, Siraj impressed on his Test debut by taking two wickets in the first innings and three in the second as India recorded a famous eight-wicket win to level the series. In the next Test, Siraj proved his mettle by taking five wickets in the match as India won by three wickets to take a 2-1 lead in the series.
Siraj’s story from his debut is a testament to his determination and perseverance, which prove that he is not one to be underestimated. With his impressive performances, Siraj has become an integral part of the Indian Test squad and will continue to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
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