Veteran commentator Aakash Chopra has applauded Mohammed Siraj for bowling an economical spell in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup win against Pakistan in New York on Sunday, June 9 as well. He added that the right-arm pacer wasn’t expected to be in India’s playing XI if they had fielded only two specialist pacers as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said, “Don’t forget Miyan Magic’s performance because he conceded only 19 runs in four overs. The talk in this entire tournament was that Miyan Magic is in the reserves and doesn’t have a chance to play, which is correct, as two fast bowlers were expected to play and he wouldn’t have been the second (after Jasprit Bumrah). To bowl four overs for 19 runs. it means he gave you five balls. They needed a run-a-ball, they had to make 120 runs off 120 balls, but if you made a difference of five balls, it meant they needed 120 runs in 19 overs. Small things make a huge difference in the end.”
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However, Siraj gave away only 10 runs in his first three overs. He conceded nine runs in the 18th over when Pakistan required 30 runs off 18 balls. Although he delivered a wide and a no-ball in that over, he didn’t allow Iftikhar Ahmed to hit a boundary off the free hit as well. Aakash Chopra also praised Jasprit Bumrah (3/14 in four overs) for living up to expectations as well.
“When 48 runs are required off 48 balls, people look at 48 in 48, and what do I see – Bumrah had two overs left, so it’s 48 in 40 balls, and reduce at least one of your remaining wickets, and if Bumrah bowls well and you play a bad shot, reduce two. That is how I saw the game. When Rizwan got out, I said it was going to happen. It wasn’t a surprise. When you see him bowl, you assume there is no chance. He is not going to concede eight runs. When he came to bowl the 19th over, I felt he would leave 15 runs at least and he left 18. What a bowler, what a legend. The way he is dialing up his performances, Player of the Match in two successive matches, Bumrah was absolutely outstanding,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
