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Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj shared the funny story about their mini-argument during the final moments of the fifth Test against England.
Mohammed Siraj (L) and Shubman Gill laughing in the post-day press conference. (PC: BCCI)
Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj have narrated the hilarious story behind their mini-argument during the dying moments of the fifth Test between India and England at the Oval.
With 11 runs needed and one wicket in the bank, Siraj bowled a wide yorker to Gus Atkinson on the last ball of the 84th over. The England batter missed, and it was collected by Dhruv Jurel, who tried to roll it onto the stumps but didn’t hit. Atkinson, who had to protect his injured partner, Chris Woakes, on the other end, managed to take the single and retain the strike for the next over.
Siraj was visibly upset with Jurel and was seen saying something to Gill nearby. After India eventually sealed the win with Siraj getting Atkinson with a brilliant, straight yorker two overs later, the duo revealed what it was all about.
“That wide yorker was our (Siraj and Gill’s) plan,” Siraj said in the post-day press conference. “It was the last ball of the over, and we knew they won’t want to get Woakes on strike. So he said that we can bowl a wide yorker because there was a chance of a run-out too. They wouldn’t have been able to hit it for a six, and we wanted a dot ball.”
Gill followed it up, saying that Siraj had asked him to keep Jurel prepared.
“He had told me to ask Dhruv Jurel to remove his gloves for the run-out,” Gill said. “Jab tak maine Dhruv ko bola ye bhagne lag gaya aur usko time ni mila. Toh usne miss kardi and isne mujhe bola, ‘Tuune bola kyu nahi?’ (Till the time I could go and tell Dhruv, Siraj had already started running for the ball. So he missed the run-out, and he came asking me why I didn’t tell Dhruv!)”
Wicketkeepers often take out one glove in such situations where they can have a chance to get a run-out at the striker’s end because it’s easier to connect underarm throws without the cushioning. Jurel paid it back to Siraj and the team with his brilliant efforts on seaming deliveries down the leg and preventing them from going for easy byes.
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