NEW DELHI: India captain Shubman Gill on Thursday ruled out any injury concern for Mohammed Siraj after the pacer appeared to be below his best during the drawn second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.Siraj bowled at a reduced pace and often used a shorter run-up during the Test. His fitness also came under the scanner after he landed heavily while trying to take a catch in Sri Lanka’s first innings.Gill, however, made it clear that Siraj was not carrying an injury.
‘Firstly, Siraj is not injured’
Gill said Siraj had not been feeling his best even during the first Test in Galle and was also returning to international cricket after a break.“Firstly, Siraj is not injured. He didn’t feel well even in the first match (at Galle). He last played against Afghanistan in June…so he was playing almost after a couple of months. It takes time for someone to come back to the rhythm.“Even in the first Test, we felt that his pace was slow. But sometimes when you play more, you come back to the rhythm. But as far as the injury is concerned, there is nothing,” he said.Siraj’s lack of his usual pace was noticeable as India struggled to finish off Sri Lanka on the fifth day. The hosts batted through the final day, with Sonal Dinusha scoring an unbeaten 133 to secure a draw.
‘It gets very frustrating’
India had reduced Sri Lanka to 229/6 by the end of the fourth day but could not force the remaining wickets on the final day.“It gets very frustrating. We attacked a lot in the beginning. But I think as the match went on, the wicket got slower. It was not like the ball was not moving and when the ball was spinning, the wickets were not in play. It was not like the wicket was very flat,” said Gill at the post-match press meet.The India captain said Sri Lanka’s defensive approach made it difficult for his bowlers to create chances.“Unless you are playing a shot and looking to make a run, then it is difficult to take a wicket. We tried all that we could, and I don’t think there was any lack of intensity or the efforts that we put in. The spinners bowled 50-60 overs on the trot for three days.“Fielding for three days is not an easy task in these conditions. I would say 10 out of 10 for the effort and the intent. They also played really well,” he added.Gill also felt India could have been in a better position if they had taken their chances on the fourth day.“On day 4, we thought we had created chances. If there was a little more pressure, the wickets would have come and then maybe the result would have been better. But as long as we still have a chance to qualify for the World Test Championship (final), it’s fine.”
Gill praises Prasidh
Gill was pleased with the progress made by Prasidh Krishna.“I think he’s been in the pick of our bowlers. When things are not happening, he’s been our go-to bowler, especially this season. He’s created chances, which is what I want as a captain. We want a go-to bowler when wickets are not guaranteed. I think he did that brilliantly,” he said.
