IPL 2024: Gavaskar heaps praise on Siraj's performance against KKR

Sunil Gavaskar (Pic: File Pic)

Following the Royal Challengers Bengaluru's four-wicket win in the IPL 2024 match against Gujarat Titans, Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar praised lead pacer Mohammed Siraj. He said the pacer's self-belief and never-say-die attitude are his real strengths.

In the IPL 2024 match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Siraj claimed the wicket of GT captain Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha in the first powerplay. The visitors were bowled out for 147 runs in 19.3 overs.

"Every time you see Mohammed Siraj, you know that he's going to give his heart out. Remember the time when his father passed away when he was in Australia. He carried on," Gavaskar said on Star Sports Cricket Live.

"A lot of people would want to go back because your parents are so dear to you. But I think he realised that playing for India was important. Also, he was not established at that stage. An established player would 100 per cent have gone back.

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"And remember how spectacularly he bowled in that Gabba Test match. Getting somebody like Steve Smith out when he was on 55... so this is the real strength of Mohammed Siraj, the self-belief and the never-say-die attitude on the field."

Having to chase a total of 148 runs, RCB opening batsmen Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli milked 92 runs in the first powerplay. Later, the side went from 92 for no loss to 117 for six wickets. However, the hosts managed to chase the target in 13.4 overs in the IPL 2024 match against GT.

"Extraordinary stuff during the power play when RCB was batting. It was just game on, and then all of a sudden things changed. Were they trying to counter the net run rate solution? And if that is the case, then well played to them because they needed to go hard," former Australian batter Matthew Hayden said.

"So they lost those three wickets to Joshua Little straight away in that middle stage of the match. And then they were able to consolidate because, simply as you heard Faf at the presentation say, anything short of 180, even 190 on this high-scoring venue, was never going to be enough runs."

Former England cricketer and coach Paul Collingwood also lauded the "aggressive approach" of the RCB batters. The intensity displayed by RCB with the ball was commendable. Even while chasing a modest total, seeing Virat Kohli stepping out of his crease and effortlessly flicking a delivery for six on just the second ball indicated their aggressive intent. This signals danger for their opponents.

"Despite their position near the bottom of the table, RCB didn't hold back. They showed clarity, bravery, and aggression, particularly in the middle order. Although they lost wickets, I commend their aggressive approach," he said.

(With PTI Inputs)