As India ramped up preparations for the second Test against England, pacer Mohammed Siraj found himself in the middle of a light-hearted incident during a training session in Birmingham.
Following India’s loss in the first Test at Headingley, players have been undergoing intense practice ahead of the Edgbaston Test, which begins on July 2. Siraj, known more for his fiery pace than his batting, had been working diligently on his defensive technique during the nets.
But his focus was briefly interrupted when he realised his bat had been damaged.
“How’s my bat broken? Who broke my bat yaar?” Siraj was heard saying, as reported by the Times of India in a video clip. Initially surprised and slightly annoyed, Siraj quickly turned the moment into laughter, shrugging off the incident with a smile.
The moment brought some comic relief to the Indian camp, which is otherwise dealing with serious team composition concerns. Star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah is unlikely to play in the second Test as the team looks to manage his workload across the five-match series.
If Bumrah is rested, either Arshdeep Singh or Akash Deep is expected to fill in, with both having bowled in the nets while Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna did not participate in the session.
Siraj to lead the attack?
With Bumrah likely to sit out, more responsibility will fall on Siraj to lead the pace attack. His performance in the series opener was modest, taking just two wickets in 41 overs. India will now count on him not only to make breakthroughs but also to guide the relatively inexperienced pace unit.
The Edgbaston Test could be a crucial turning point in the series, and India will be hoping for their bowlers — and batsmen — to bounce back strongly.
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