Mohammed Siraj was indirectly targeted by Mohammad Kaif after Jasprit Bumrah celebrated Travis Head’s wicket with a smile in the Boxing Day Test. Former India batter Mohammad Kaif took an indirect dig at Mohammed Siraj after Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Travis Head for a duck on Day 1 of the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the MCG in Melbourne.
Mohammad Kaif gave Bumrah’s example and advised the next generation to “choose the role models wisely”. It was an indirect reference to the way Siraj celebrated Head’s wicket in the first innings of the day-night Test in Adelaide. The Indian pacer gave an animated send-off to the Australian left-hander after clean bowling him with a low full-toss. The fact that Head had already scored a match-changing 140 before that is what irked Kaif.
Jasprit Bumrah shatters in form Travis Head’s off stump for 0 on Boxing Day
Travis Head scored successive centuries in third Test in Brisbane. It was Jasprit Bumrah who bowled a magical delivery from around the stumps that came back in sharply to stop Head in the fourth Test. Jasprit Bumrah bowled a delivery to angle into Travis Head who shouldered arms anticipating the ball to go over the off-stump, the off bail was clipped and Head was out without scoring for the first time in his career.
Travis Head scored another century in the third Test in Brisbane. It needed a magical delivery from around the stumps that came back in sharply to stop Head in the fourth Test. Bumrah got one to come back in with the angle. Travis Head, who expected the ball to shape away, got his stumps rattled after shouldering arms. He was out for a seven-ball duck – his first single digit score in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
For Kaif, the way Bumrah celebrated the wicket was the most memorable aspect of that occasion. Without saying anything or saying goodbye, the top bowler in the world opened his arms and grinned widely.
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif lauds Jasprit Bumrah during BGT 2024-25 4th Test
Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has praised pacer Jasprit Bumrah for his attitude on the field during the ongoing fourth Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Melbourne.
On the opening day of the Test (Thursday, December 26), Jasprit Bumrah, India’s lead pacer, dismissed the dangerous and in-form Australia batter Travis Head for a seven-ball duck, negating his threat.
Head is the leading run-scorer in the series and has been a thorn for the Indian cricket team over the last few months. However, Bumrah got the better of him early this time around, not allowing him to open his account.
Following the dismissal, Mohammad Kaif took to his official X (former Twitter) account to laud Jasprit Bumrah for his calmness. Kaif pointed out that Bumrah did not display any over-the-top celebrations or give an angry send-off after dismissing Australia’s key batter Head.
Praising Bumrah for his behavior, Kaif added that kids watching must learn and choose their role models wisely. The former India cricketer could be making a possible reference to Mohammed Siraj, who gave Head a fiery send-off after dismissing him in the second Test in Adelaide, or even Virat Kohli, who was involved in a heated exchange with 19-year-old debutant Sam Konstas in Melbourne.
“How does Bumrah celebrate the dismissal of Australia’s main man Travis Head? No over-the-top celebration, no angry send off, just a smile. Kids learn, choose your role models wisely. #INDvAUS,” Kaif tweeted.
Jasprit Bumrah has been India’s key bowler in the ongoing BGT 2024-25 series and continued to be among the wickets in the fourth Test.
On the opening day (December 26), Bumrah led India’s charge with three wickets as Australia went past 300 runs. Apart from bagging the big wicket of Head, Bumrah also accounted for the wicket of Usman Khawaja, who played a key knock, scoring 57 runs off 121 deliveries.
He went on to dismiss Mitchell Marsh for just four runs, thus picking up three wickets in all. The Indian pacer bowled 21 overs and ended with figures of 3/75.