I felt Mohammed Siraj should have snatched the ball after Lunch: Saba Karim

Former Indian cricketer and analyst Saba Karim has slammed Shubman Gill for not allowing Mohammed Siraj to open the bowling attack after lunch on Day 3. Interestingly, England batters Harry Brook and Jamie Smith went on to stitch a 303-run stand for the sixth wicket after losing their first five wickets for 84 runs.

While India was eager to break the partnership between Brook and Smith, Gill went ahead with Prasidh Krishan right after lunch. However, the pacer went on to leak runs as the duo got settled at the crease.

"I felt he should have snatched the ball after Lunch. The rhythm with which he bowled this (Friday) morning, till the ball was new, I feel there was a slip-up to start with Prasidh Krishna after Lunch. You needed to break the partnership at that stage," Saba Karim said on Sony Sports Network.

Interestingly, Siraj, who came into the attack later in the day, went on to scalp a six-wicket haul, conceding 70 runs in 19.3 overs. Saba heaped praise on the Hyderabadi pacer, stating that his lines were fabulous. 

"He (Siraj) is a pace bowler who always runs in hard. He bowls every ball with more than 100 percent commitment. He bowls with that passion. His groupings in terms of line were fabulous because there was less bounce on the pitch, and the attempt was to finish the ball within the stumps if it was pitching outside off-stump," Saba elaborated.

Furthermore, Hemang Badani also joined the queue, asserting that Siraj’s numbers have been excellent whenever he has been given a chance to lead the bowling attack. He added that Siraj does pretty well whenever given an additional responsibility. 

"His numbers are better whenever he is the lead bowler. He has always picked up wickets. He always wants the responsibility to be given to him. He feels he does well if he is given responsibility, and he showed that in this match as well," Hemang Badani said.

"I felt they should have started with him after Lunch. India could have picked up more wickets there. However, it's okay, after a slight mistake, as soon as the second new ball was taken, they finished the match in 10 overs. It seemed like both might pick up five-wicket hauls, but Mohammed Siraj went ahead," Badani concluded.

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