Watch: Mohammed Siraj’s mother makes a special wish for his son after his stupendous spell in first ODI against NZ

New Zealand gave India a mighty scare in the first ODI in Hyderabad as Michael Bracewell played an innings for the ages to take his side from 131/6 to 337, just 12 runs short of India’s total. Bracewell played a breathtaking knock of 140 off 78 balls as he ripped apart Indian bowling by clobbering 12 fours and 10 sixes in his innings. However, there was one Indian bowler who stood tall against his assault and bowled with an economy of 4.6 in the high-scoring game.

He was none other than the local boy Mohammed Siraj who lived up to the expectations of the crowd and brought India back into the game in the 46^th over. Siraj broke the dangerous partnership of 162 off 102 balls between Bracewell and Mitchell Santner for the seventh wicket as he got Santner caught at the deep wicket. The 28-year-old first scalped the dangerous Devon Conway who was fresh from a hundred against Pakistan in the recent ODI series.

He then sent the Kiwi captain Tom Latham back on his way to the pavilion and further dismissed Santner and Henry Shipley in the same over at a crucial juncture in the game. Siraj finished with figures of 4/46 in 10 overs. The seamer had the support of his family and friends in the crowd who were elated with his impressive performance.

After the game, Indian Cricket Board posted a video of Siraj’s friends and family congratulating him on a job well done. Shabana Begum, Siraj’s mother was also present and expressed optimism that her son would be selected for the Indian team for the forthcoming ODI World Cup 2023.

The video also included a number of Mohammed Siraj’s cricket-playing buddies wishing the Indian bowler well in the future. “I would like to thank Allah and hope that Mohammed Siraj can continue to shine for India. Hopefully, he can continue his performances and make it into the World Cup squad,” she said.

Watch the video here:

Shubman Gill became the fifth Indian and youngest batter to score a double hundred

Earlier, in the first innings, India posted a massive 349/8 courtesy of a sensational double hundred by Shubman Gill who scored 208 off 149 balls with the help of 19 fours and 9 sixes. Other than Gill no other Indian batter could cross the 40-run mark. He became the fifth Indian and 8th make batter to reach the landmark. The 23-year-old was also the youngest to achieve the milestone and was awarded ‘Player of the Match’.