File picture of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in a group picture with India squad after rain delays the two-day warm-up match between Prime Ministers XI and India, at Manuka Oval in Canberra
| Photo Credit: ANI

After taking part in the two-day warm-up match against Prime Minister’s XI, Rohit Sharma-led Team India on Monday (December 2, 2024) departed from Canberra for the Adelaide Test, which will be starting from December 6.

Earlier on Sunday (December 1, 20245) in the warm-up match, a four-wicket haul by pacer Harshit Rana, along with commanding knocks from Shubman Gill, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, helped India secure a five-wicket win against Australia’s Prime Ministers’ XI at Canberra’s Manuka Oval.

While leaving, skipper Rohit and star India pacer Mohammed Siraj were seen taking selfies with the fans who were waiting outside the team hotel in Canberra. Top batter Shubman Gill and assistant coach Abhishek Nayar were also captured leaving the team hotel for Adelaide along with other players.

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In the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, India staged a stunning comeback from a series whitewash against New Zealand at home, defeating Australia by 295 runs in Perth despite being bowled out for a mere 150 runs in their first innings.

Siraj credits Bumrah for turnaround after difficult home season

Back in form with five wickets in India’s brilliant come-from-behind win in the Perth Test against Australia, Mohammed Siraj has credited his senior pace colleague and attack spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for helping him turn things around after an ordinary home series against New Zealand.

The 30-year-old endured a difficult home season, managing just two wickets in two Tests during India’s disastrous 0-3 loss to New Zealand prior to the tour Down Under, but returned to his best in the opening Test against Australia.

Siraj said it was a chat with stand-in skipper and No.1 ranked Test bowler Bumrah prior to the tour that helped him make a comeback in the series-opener in Perth where India recovered from a first innings collapse to 150 for a massive 295-run triumph.

“I always keep talking to Jassi bhai (Bumrah),” Siraj said after the India’s six-wicket win over Australian Prime Minister’s XI in a practice match here on Sunday.

“Even before the first match, I spoke with him about what I was going through. And he just told me one thing — don’t run (chase) after wickets, just keep bowling consistently in one area and enjoy your bowling. If you still don’t get wickets, then you come ask me.

“So I enjoyed my bowling and I got wickets as well,” he added.

(With inputs from PTI, ANI)

Roaring success: Siraj proved unplayable and ripped through the Lanka line-up.
| Photo Credit: BCCI Twitter

Moments after Mohammed Siraj finished his sixth over during the Asia Cup final, captain Rohit Sharma walked up to him on the bowler’s way to third-man, had a chat with him and he persisted with Siraj for another over.

But after the next over, despite an on-song Siraj likely to pick a seven-wicket haul — a rare achievement in ODIs — he was taken off the attack before Sri Lanka was bowled out for 50 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

“He bowled seven overs in that spell, and seven overs is a lot. So, I got a message from the trainer that we have to stop him now,” Rohit said after lifting India’s eighth Asia Cup trophy.

“He (Siraj) was quite desperate to bowl. That is the nature of any batter or bowler, they want to pounce when they see any opportunity. That’s where my job comes in. I make sure that everyone stays a little calm and you don’t over-exert yourself.”

Rohit narrated a similar incident against the same opposition in Thiruvananthapuram earlier this year when he had to stop Siraj’s quest for a five-wicket haul. “I remember, Siraj was in a similar situation against Sri Lanka in Thiruvananthapuram, and he bowled some eight-nine overs on the trot. He was on four wickets then. So I think seven overs were enough,” Rohit said.

Rohit was thrilled with Siraj’s performance.

“It was very pleasing to watch from the slips. Siraj got the ball to move more than the other two. It depends, you know, every day, everyone cannot be a hero. That’s how the sport is so good because a different hero shows up each day,” Rohit said. “We were riding behind him (Siraj) when he was bowling that spell. We all complemented him.”