Getting wickets off yorkers makes me proud: Mohammed Siraj

India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who claimed 4-84 in England’s first innings on February 17, spoke exclusively to JioCinema on 'Match Centre Live', post the third day’s play of the Rajkot Test. 

Excerpts:

Siraj on drawing inspiration from Jasprit Bumrah’s yorkers: Obviously, I was inspired. There isn’t much help for fast bowlers from this track. The ball was reversing at the time I bowled, so I thought bowling yorkers may be a good option. Because Rehan Ahmed was attacking, I felt if I could deliver yorkers, I would succeed. Whenever a fast bowler gets a wicket from yorkers he feels proud.

On bowling long spells: I love bowling long spells. That’s because I bowl long spells in domestic cricket, and I am used to it. When I got that chance, we were a bowler short, so there was responsibility. So, I thought I’ll deliver on this responsibility and take the team forward.

On the change in match situation post lunch: If you bowl 3-4 short balls to them, they can’t resist attacking after that. The shot (Ben) Stokes played was not needed at that time, but for us it was good that he played that shot and we got that important wicket. After that we got wickets regularly.

On the mindset when you know the opponents are going to be aggressive: England don’t like playing dot balls. They are happy scoring through boundaries. So, our plan revolves around bowling at the same spot consistently. If you are hit for boundaries, that’s not a problem as these are the balls that will fetch us wickets.

On the target India have in mind: We have not thought about it. We want to bat as long as possible. The plan is to bat them out of the game.

Anil Kumble analysed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal’s century, saying: “Yashasvi Jaiswal showed fine temperament and a measured approach in the first half of his innings. In terms of balls, not runs, there was a switch when (James) Anderson bowled and that’s when he changed gears. He went after every ball and it was like a T20 knock. The way he batted and controlled the game in the first innings when Rohit was there, he let Rohit play the dominant role. And even when Shubman (Gill) came in, he was subdued. He was just looking to get those singles and not looking at going after Tom Hartley. But once the switch changed, he just went berserk.”

Also read: Ben Duckett dubs Yashasvi Jaiswal's knock to be inspired by Bazball

Kumble on Jaiswal’s back spasm: “I don’t think he could continue, although he did try. The physio came the first time and then he sort of went back to batting, he tried again but he couldn’t. I’m sure if he could manage, he would continue to bat today. It’s just that he couldn’t go on and you don’t want a situation where the other partner - Shubman Gill gets out because it can happen in a partnership like this where your partner is unable to run, take those singles and rotate strike and then he would struggle. So, I felt it was a good call from Yashasvi and also from the team management to just pull him back.”