Dinesh Karthik reckoned that Mohammed Siraj’s injury and subsequently bowling fewer overs cost India the second Test against South Africa at The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. On the very first day of the game, the 27-year-old Mohammed Siraj hobbled off the park after tweaking his hamstring as he pulled up in his delivery stride.
After bowling 9.5 overs in the first innings, Mohammed Siraj finished with figures of 6-0-37-0 in the second and bowled at an economy of 6.16. Dinesh Karthik was of the opinion that the hamstring injury put Mohammed Siraj in a lot of discomforts due to which the latter couldn’t be at his best.
Dinesh Karthik Reckoned That Mohammed Siraj’s Injury Put India’s Bowling Unit On The Backfoot
India was given a huge blow before the match got started, as Virat Kohli had to pull out of what would have been his 99th Test match. It was revealed that Virat Kohli suffered an upper back spasm and hence it was decided that he will miss this match. On the other hand, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj had pulled up on day one of the second Test at the Wanderers in mid bowling stride and had clutched his right hamstring.
“India, being the number one Test cricketing nation in the world, they would be little disappointed. They probably didn’t bowl at their best. And the main reason why India struggled through this test match was obviously the absence of Siraj.”
“The hamstring injury not only put him in the backfoot but it put India’s bowling unit on the backfoot. Because he has the ability to seam the ball well in and out. And that would’ve been a massive difference,” Karthik was quoted as saying.
With 122 needed on day 4 to win the Test match, Dean Elgar (96*), Rassie Van der Dussen (40), and Temba Bavuma (23*) came together to take the hosts to a win on a rain-curtained fourth day in Johannesburg.
Dinesh Karthik Credited Shardul Thakur For His 7 Wicket Haul Besides Crediting Ajinkya Rahane And Cheteshwar Pujara For The Fifties
Dinesh Karthik also had words of praises for Shardul Thakur, who picked up a seven-wicket haul in South Africa’s first innings and gave away 61 runs in 17.5 overs. Shardul Thakur also git rid of Aiden Markram in the second innings, although his efforts went in vain.
Moreover, Indian keeper and commentator Dinesh Karthik heaped praises on veteran batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane for scoring useful half-centuries in the second innings. The duo had come under fire of late for not being able to perform to expectations.
“Credit to Shardul Thakur. He looked outstanding. He created opportunities every time he came on to bowl. Shardul was the biggest plus for India to come out from this Test apart from Rahane and Pujara batting so well. They batted brilliantly in the second innings. Very important knock for them and it was good to see the approach they had in their strokeplay,” he added.
India lost the second Test by seven wickets and the Proteas, led by Dean Elgar’s magnificent unbeaten 96, managed to draw level in the three-match series. The third Test is scheduled to start on January 11 at Newlands in Cape Town. The Proteas knocked India over for 202 and 266. However, the Indian bowlers failed to defend 240 in the fourth innings as the home side romped home by seven wickets to level the three-match series.