Mohammed Siraj (Photo Source: X)
Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne has got off to a horrendous start in the
Border Gavaskar Trophy
, scoring a total of five runs in the two innings of the
Perth
Test, which India won by a mammoth 295 runs inside four days. And India pacer Mohammed Siraj believes the Australian is only pretending to be confident, while actually he is clueless.
Siraj dismissed Labuschagne lbw for 2 in Australia's first innings, which had no answer to Jasprit Bumrah and folded up for just 104. Bumrah took five wickets in the innings and the hosts were bowled out for just 104 and missed out on taking the advantage after dismissing India for 150 on day one.
India then pummelled the Aussie bowlers in their second innings, thanks to centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal (161) & Virat Kohli (100 not out) and a 201-run opening parternship between Jaiswal and KL Rahul (77). India scored 487 for 6 before declaring to set a daunting 534-run target for the home team.
Siraj and Bumrah then took three wickets each to bowl Austrlia out for 238 for India's massive win.
"Boht maza aaya...apna confidence toh high rehta hai hamesha (enjoyed a lot, my confidence is always high)," Siraj said after the match at the Optus Stadium, talking to Star Sports. "Marnus ke saath boht achha raha, kyunki woh itna pressure mei khel raha hai abhi (enjoyed bowling to Marnus because he is playing under immense pressure)."
Virat Kohli back among the runs with a solid hundred vs Australia in Perth
Siraj explained the confused state of Labuschagne as bowling legend Wasim Akram and former India allrounder and coach Ravi Shastri listened to him.
"He is trying to leave the ball as much as possible, not to play it. He's trying to show that he is confident, but he is not. He is under a lot of pressure," said Siraj.
India will next play a two-day day-night practice game against Prime Minister's XI, starting December 30 in Canberra, to prepare for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide, which begins on December 6.
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