“Taking a five-fer on such a flat wicket is not easy,” Mohammed Siraj recalls his spectacular first-inning performance in Trinidad.

The hosts made a comeback in the second Test of the ongoing multi-format series between the West Indies and India following a significantly improved performance compared to that of the first game. The Indian team, despite their better performance, has shown to be too much for the Windies to handle.

The visitors scored 438 runs in the first inning, so the West Indies tried to cut their disadvantage as much as they could. The hosts were only able to score 255 runs before being bowled out, despite the surface being a flat pitch that was favorable for batsmen. This was all due to renowned Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who bowled a fantastic stint in conditions that were totally against him.

In the first innings, Mohammed Siraj

Took a wicket to end the West Indies’ batting effort. His spell was essential in keeping India ahead and limiting the hosts to 255 runs overall. Siraj stepped out to consider the tactics that led to such a performance after bowling such a period on a batting wicket.

First of all, this performance was excellent because it’s difficult to get a five-for on a flat wicket with little action from the pitch. I wanted to keep it all the way to the end. If it looks good from there, it is. That was my strategy: just keep carrying out this straightforward approach. It was swinging today since we also had a really new ball. Tomorrow, we’ll start with an older ball. We’ll need to stick to straightforward strategies, avoid giving up too many runs, and keep applying pressure, Mohammed Siraj was cited as saying by CriCKETMOOD.

The Indian squad put on an outstanding batting display after the great bowler finished his spell. India set the Windies a target of 365 runs to reach after posting 181 runs thanks to half-centuries by Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan.