[In Pictures] Mohammed Siraj tries to convince Rohit Sharma to bowl spin amid bad light in IND vs BAN 2024 1st TestÂ
Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj tried to make his case to skipper Rohit Sharma for a spell of spin bowling owing to bad light during the third session of the first Test against Bangladesh at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. The umpires had declared pace to be taken off owing to the fading light after dark clouds surrounded the venue.
By the time the umpires came to the decision, Siraj had already began his fourth over. Rohit Sharma had to either finish the current over with the pacer bowling part-time spin bowling or call the players off the field. When the umpires presented the option to continue with spin, the skipper laughed it off by suggesting that Siraj does not know how to bowl spin.
However, the pacer was all ready to unleash some finger spin, even mimicking his action at the crease. He was in the skipper's ear to give him a chance, while other recognized part-time spinners in the team like Shubman Gill were also making their case.
However, Rohit Sharma decided not to continue in such a fashion. Soon after, the umpires declared the end of the day's play due to bad light.
Recently, England pacer Chris Woakes had turned to off-spin due to poor light in the third Test against Sri Lanka at The Oval. He had struggled to set the field, and ended up conceding six runs off four deliveries of spin while struggling to bowl in the right areas.
Siraj finishes the day with figures of 0-20 off 3.2 overs as India head into Day 4 as favorites
With the play abandoned for the day, Siraj's over remains unfinished. The pacer will kickstart proceedings on the penultimate day, where Bangladesh will resume from their score of 158-4.
Team India are in pole position after having posted a mammoth target of 515. Earlier in the day, Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill slammed centuries to propel the hosts to 287/4 in quick time before the declaration.