Mohammed Siraj, the Indian pacer, revealed some valuable advice given to him by India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, after he was awarded the Player of the Match (POTM) award. The match ended in a draw at Queens Park Oval due to rain, with not a single ball bowled on the final day. Despite this, Siraj’s outstanding performance in the first innings earned him the POTM award, as he took five wickets for 60 runs in 23.4 overs.
During the post-match presentation, Siraj expressed his delight at receiving his first Player of the Match award in Test cricket. He acknowledged that the pitch didn’t offer much assistance to the pacers, but he stuck to simple plans and executed them effectively. Picking wickets in challenging conditions like these boosted his confidence.
Siraj credited Rohit Sharma for instilling belief in him and advising him not to succumb to pressure but rather enjoy the game. The guidance from the team captain evidently played a significant role in Siraj’s impressive performance.
The series between India and the West Indies ended with India claiming a 1-0 victory, having won the first Test by an innings and 141 runs. However, the final day of the second Test was completely washed out by heavy rain, leading to a draw.
India declared their second innings at 181 for 2 on the fourth day, setting a challenging target of 365 runs for the West Indies to win and level the series, which was part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle. Unfortunately, the persistent rain on the fifth day prevented any further play, and the Test was eventually called off. At the end of the rain-affected fourth day, the West Indies were at 76 for two in their second innings, with Jermaine Blackwood (20) and Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24) at the crease.
