In a major blow to the Indian cricket team, pacer Mohammed Siraj left the field on Day 2 of the third Test at The Gabba after sustaining an apparent hamstring and knee injury. Siraj, who was bowling his seventh consecutive over, experienced pain in his lower hamstring and left knee, prompting him to stop mid-over and call for medical attention. Despite stretching and attempting to continue, the discomfort persisted, and Siraj walked off the field grimacing in pain.
The incident occurred as Siraj bowled the second ball of his over and immediately felt something was amiss. While attempting to stretch and assess the situation, he clutched his left knee and signaled for the physio. Although no immediate treatment was administered, the pacer eventually left the ground, leaving fans and the Indian team concerned about his availability for the remainder of the match.
Akash Deep stepped in to complete Siraj’s over, while he and Nitish Kumar Reddy will now need to shoulder more responsibility alongside Jasprit Bumrah to lead India’s pace attack. Losing Siraj at a crucial juncture could pose significant challenges for India as they aim to stage a comeback in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Indian fans and the team management will anxiously await updates on Siraj’s condition, hoping that the injury is not serious and that he can return to action soon. With the series delicately poised, every bowler’s contribution is critical, and Siraj’s absence could potentially impact India’s efforts to counter the formidable Australian batting lineup.