'When There's No Help...,' Siraj Reflects On His First Player Of The Match Award In Tests
Mohammed Siraj was adjudged Player of the Match in 2nd Test. [Twitter]
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj won his first Player of the match award in the recently concluded second Test between West Indies and India in Trinidad. Siraj played a crucial role in the match as he took his second Test five-wicket haul in the first innings.
The 29-year-old was the chief architect behind the West Indies collapse from a comfortable overnight score of 229/5 to 255 all out early on Day 4. The surface was not an easy one for the bowlers and the humid condition was making things worse for the Indian bowlers.
Additionally, the West Indies batters were giving nothing away easily and showed a great fight with the bat during their first innings. India desperately needed to wrap things up quickly on day 4 and Siraj rose to the occasion, who went on to register his career-best Test figures of 5/60.
Siraj's incredible reverse swing with the old ball left the West Indies batters in a state of disarray. He joined an elite list of Indian pacers like Kapil Dev and Jasprit Bumrah to have a Test five-wicket haul in the Caribbean.
Siraj on his first POTM award in Test
Speaking during the post-match presentation, Siraj opened up on his feelings after winning his first player of the match award in the Test.
"This is my first Man of the Match award in Tests, so it's a memory," Siraj said.
He further acknowledged the support he received from the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma when the conditions were challenging and the surface was hardly offering any help for the bowlers.
"When there's no help for fast bowlers and yet you get wickets, it gives you confidence. Rohit bhai just asked me to keep doing what I have been doing," Siraj added.
Moreover, we should not forget the fact that Siraj was spearheading the Indian pace attack in this Test series in absence of senior men like Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
He was also the leader of the pack when he took his first Test five-wicket haul during India's famous win at the Gabba. This shows his worth as someone who can take the responsibility very well and step up as a leader in need.
Meanwhile, India won the two-match Test series by a 1-0 margin as relentless rain played spoilsport on Day 5 of the second Test at the Queen's Park Oval. The action will now moves to the limited-overs series with the three-match ODI series starting from July 27th in Bridgetown, Barbados.
 "Kaushik Kashyap")
