“I keep telling him that you’re my bunny”- Mohammed Siraj on bowling to Shubman Gill in nets

Mohammed Siraj opened up about his relationship with Shubman Gill, his captain in the Indian Test team and the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The duo shone for India recently on the tour of England. Shubman Gill made his India Test captaincy debut and led from the front. He hammered 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40. He hit four centuries, including the highest score of 269 in Edgbaston. In fact, he scored one more century, 169, in the second innings, in the same Test in Edgbaston.

On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj was the only Indian pacer to play all five tests and ended up with two five-wicket hauls, including 5/104 in a match-winning effort in the second innings of the Oval Test as England chased 374 runs.

Speaking to RevSportz, Siraj opened up about the unique equation he shares with Shubman Gill.

“He understands what I want and what I don’t”—Mohammed Siraj on Shubman Gill

The two have a shared past that predates even the glitz and glamour of international cricket. Their stories have frequently followed parallel lines, from working hard for India A to standing side by side on debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in December 2020. Another thing that connected them was when they both eventually reached the top of the ICC's ODI charts nearly simultaneously.

“Shubman and I have been together for a long time. We have played India A. We have spent time off the field as well. We made our Test debuts together at the MCG and also became ODI No. 1 at the same time. We have a lot of memories together,” Shubman said to RevSportz.

It is uncommon for a fast bowler to refer to one of India's most gifted young batsmen as his "bunny," but Mohammed Siraj does it in a kind rather than a hostile manner. Instead of being a scalp he celebrates, Shubman Gill is a buddy he treasures, a teammate he has developed with, and a person whose journey makes him proud.

“We bat at the nets together and keep talking. I keep telling him that you’re my bunny. Our understanding is very easy, and it reflects on the field. He understands what I want and what I don’t, and vice versa.

“I am really proud of his growth as a captain, and now that he is the vice-captain for the Asia Cup as well, I would definitely want him to bring the trophy back. All the best to him and the team,” Siraj said.

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