Former Indian opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Mohammed Siraj, who bowled a fine spell as India won the first ODI by 67 runs against Sri Lanka at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday.
After India posted a gigantic total of 373 runs on the board, Siraj was right on the money in his opening burst. Siraj produced a top edge of Avishka Fernando’s bat, which was comfortably taken by Hardik Pandya at mid-off.
Subsequently, Siraj got the ball to move back into Kusal Mendis to disturb his woodwork. Siraj bowled a magnificent opening spell of 2-15 in his five overs as he got the ball to swing both ways and landed his deliveries on the right line and length.
The fast bowler from Hyderabad finished with figures of 2-30 in his seven overs as India restricted Sri Lanka to 306 runs to win comprehensively.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube Channel, “When it was Sri Lanka’s turn to bat, Mohammed Siraj was unstoppable. He was breathing fire, he bowled amazingly well. He dismissed Avishka Fernando and after that got Kusal Mendis out for a duck. The match went bad for Kusal Mendis, who first dropped Virat Kohli and then got out for a duck himself.”
Chopra also heaped praise on Umran Malik for doing a fine job for the team. The gun speedster returned with figures of 3-57 in the eight overs he bowled.
“After that, Umran Malik was brilliant. He picked up three wickets and there were two wickets in Mohammed Siraj’s kitty. There was one wicket for Chahal. Umran Malik is a wicket-taker, he picks up wickets whenever he comes. He bowls in the middle overs and hits the stumps. He is that good.”
The renowned commentator also shed light on Rohit Sharma’s decision to withdraw the run-out appeal against Dasun Shanaka when the Sri Lankan skipper had backed too far at the non-striker’s end when he was on 98.
“There was a big incident in this match. Dasun Shanaka was at the non-striker’s end on 98 and Mohammad Shami ran him out. He was actually out but Rohit Sharma withdrew the appeal. He later said that the guy played so well and they have no right to dismiss him like that at the non-striker’s end.”
“There is nothing right or wrong in that, it is everyone’s personal decision, but I feel India should decide as a team whether they will do this or not. If you are not going to do it, it should be a blanket rule, or else you say that if someone has done it, we are not going to withdraw the appeal.”
The second ODI will be played on Thursday at Kolkata.
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