India wrapped up a commanding 2-0 Test series victory over West Indies, showcasing their dominance at home once again. All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja bagged the Player of the Series award for his consistent all-round performances, while India sealed the second Test in Delhi with a comfortable seven-wicket win.
However, despite the result, head coach Gautam Gambhir voiced his concerns over the quality of the pitch, highlighting how it offered little assistance to fast bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Former India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, meanwhile, heaped praise on Siraj for his relentless effort despite the unresponsive Kotla wicket. The 31-year-old pacer bowled 24 overs in the match, claiming three wickets, and impressed with his energy and persistence even when conditions heavily favoured the spinners.
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“I would like to compliment Mohammed Siraj. On this wicket, there wasn’t much help—it kept getting slower—but Siraj kept bending his back and putting in the effort. Bumrah got wickets in the end, but Siraj’s perseverance deserves recognition. He bowled with the same intensity we saw in England,” Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
Ravichandran Ashwin further lauded Siraj’s work ethic, noting how challenging first-class conditions can be for fast bowlers. “Bowling on day four is tough. Fast bowlers barely recover after a three-day break. Yet, Siraj kept going, setting smart fields and adapting to conditions despite getting no support from the surface,” Ashwin added.
Siraj finished as the second-highest wicket-taker in the series, just behind Kuldeep Yadav, and will now return to the ODI setup for the upcoming Australia tour. India are scheduled to play three ODIs followed by five T20Is. Gautam Gambhir, addressing the media after the series, also called for more sporting pitches in Indian cricket.
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“We got the result on Day 5, but the nicks need to carry. When you have two world-class fast bowlers like Bumrah and Siraj, you want them to be in the game too. There has to be something for the pacers as well,” he remarked.
