IND vs ENG Live Score: ‘I even told Akash Deep to take out remaining four wickets’ – Siraj
After picking up a six-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test against England, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj revealed that he would have happily handed the match ball to his bowling partner Akash Deep if they had finished with the same number of wickets.
Akash Deep impressed with figures of 4 for 88 from 20 overs, maintaining an economy rate of 4.40, while Siraj spearheaded the attack with 6 for 70 as India bowled England out for 407, gaining a crucial 180-run first-innings lead.
In a video shared by the BCCI, Siraj said, “I would have given the ball to Aakash if I had the same number of wickets as Aakash. My first five-wicket haul was in Australia—that’s a special memory for me. I even told Aakash to go take the remaining four wickets.”
Siraj lauded Deep for making the most of his opportunity, praising his hunger and impact.
“He was waiting for his chance, and he showed how eager he was. Honestly, I enjoyed bowling alongside him. My focus was on not giving away runs from my end. I wanted to stay disciplined and build pressure on the opposition,” Siraj added.
His fiery spell with the second new ball proved decisive, as he claimed four of England’s last five wickets, including the prized scalp of captain Ben Stokes for a duck, helping India tighten their grip on the match.
