Mohammed Siraj opens up about Joe Root’s brain-fade moment against Jasprit Bumrah

India stamped their authority over England on Day 3 of the 3rd Test at Rajkot by taking a lead of 126 runs in the first innings despite having a bowler short as Ravi Ashwin pulled out of the Test mid-way due to a family emergency. 

At the start of the day’s play, England was in a commanding position on the back of Ben Duckett’s blazing century but the whole scenario of the match turned when Joe Root decided to reverse sweep Jasprit Bumrah and ended up getting caught at slips by Yashasvi Jaiswal and from there England’s inning went south and ended bowled out on 319 runs adding just 112 runs to their previous day’s score and lost all the remaining 9 wickets.

Mohammed Siraj was the destroyer-in-chief of the Indian bowling attack as he took 4 wickets of the England batting line-up. Siraj played an important role in cleaning up the resisting England lower-order which is capable enough to hang around.

Speaking after the day’s play, Mohammed Siraj expressed his amusement over the choice of shot of Joe Root. Mohammed Siraj while interacting with the media said, “Ben Duckett's partnership was growing with Root, if he had played a little more, then it would have been difficult for us. But suddenly he played that shot which didn't look (like one) to be played." 

"But it turned out good for us and after that (Ben) Foakes and Ben Stokes had a good partnership, and then Stokes played a shot (which got him out) and we got into the game from there," he further added.

Siraj’s plan of action in the fourth innings

Mohammed Siraj also spilt some beans on the strategy that would work for a fast bowler on this surface. He emphasized the need to stick wicket to wicket on such a flat and also anticipated that the wicket could be kept a bit low in the fourth innings.

While expressing his views on the wicket behaviour he said, “I reckon the ball will keep a little low in the fourth innings but cannot say anything accurately for this wicket. The fast bowler said the Indian bowlers will have to keep targeting the stumps in the fourth innings, as straying from bowling plans would only invite trouble.”

India has now taken the 3rd innings lead to 322 runs courtesy of the scintillating century by  Yashasvi Jaiswal and will look to take the lead as much as possible and eventually take a 2-1 lead in the series.