Bowling extended spells in Test matches isn’t everyone’s forte, but when expertise and skill merge, the results are truly rewarding. This scenario perfectly unfolded when Mohammed Siraj unleashed his venomous bowling attack, causing turmoil among the Proteas’ batters and securing his fifth wicket, aided by the experienced Virat Kohli.
Following a commanding win in Cape Town, South Africa was left stunned as the scoreboard displayed a dismal 34-6 after just 15.5 overs. After a cautious start with the bat, both Aiden Markram and Dean Elgar fell prey to Mohammed Siraj’s brilliance.
This exceptional performance marked Siraj’s third five-wicket haul in Test matches, achieved within a span of 76 deliveries, with the guidance and support of Virat Kohli. The Indian bowlers made an immediate impact in the opening session of the second Test, reaping the rewards of their unwavering consistency.
The Proteas’ batsmen struggled against Siraj’s relentless pressure as he was entrusted with a lengthy bowling spell by the Indian captain, resulting in multiple wickets from his end. Notably, the attention-grabbing moment occurred when Virat Kohli’s astute guidance prompted Marco Jansen to fish outside the off-stump in the 16th over.
During the fifth delivery of the 16th over, Kohli signaled to Siraj, advising him to focus on making the batsman play outside the line of the off-stump. Responding to his franchise skipper’s advice, the 29-year-old executed the strategy perfectly, inducing an outside edge from Jansen off a well-pitched delivery.
Real Captain Virat Kohli taking the charge today and you're seeing the results 🐐pic.twitter.com/9EWFMRrCsy
— Shauryx (@Kohli_Dewotee) January 3, 2024
— Virat Sharma (@ViratSharm39743) January 3, 2024
The ball tantalizingly moved away, grazing the outside edge before landing securely in KL Rahul’s gloves behind the stumps. Witnessing this tactical success against the South African all-rounder, Siraj was elated, receiving warm embraces and praise from Kohli and other teammates.