Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin wasn't satisfied with the opening spell that Mohammed Siraj bowled during the first day of the first Test against South Africa. Openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton provided the visitors with a strong start and Siraj was the bowler that they targeted the most. The duo scored several boundaries and took the Proteas' total past the 50-run mark in quick time.
Siraj proves to be expensive
Siraj ended up leaking 25 runs in his opening spell of three overs while Jasprit Bumrah remained highly economical, giving away just two runs from four overs. After failing to pick up any wickets in the first eight overs, India skipper Shubman Gill decided to introduce spin into the attack with Axar Patel. However, he too wasn't able to stop the run-flow and conceded two boundaries in his very first over.
Ashwin was critical of Siraj's bowling effort during his first few overs and remarked that it is exactly the kind od spell that a team doesn't want after losing the toss.
"When you lose the toss, that’s exactly the first spell you don’t want from your new ball bowler. Hope India can exert control through spin," Ashwin wrote in a post on X.
Bumrah leads India's fight back
Eventually, Bumrah helped India fight back and got the wickets of both Rickelton and Markram in quick succession. Soon after, Kuldeep Yadav would join the party and dismiss South Africa captain Temba Bavuma cheaply for three runs. The duo of Wiaan Mulder and Tony de Zorzi would provide the Proteas with some much-needed stability, helping them in ending the first session on 105/3. Mulder is unbeaten on 22 while de Zorzi is batting on 15. Siraj finished off the session, giving away 34 runs from six overs and maintaining an economy-rate of 5.67.