121:Mohammed Siraj’s neighbours erect massive cut-out in Hyderabad depicting his 'finger on the lips' celebration
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was the stand out Indian performer during the team's historic win at the Lord's Cricket Ground during the second Test match against England. The Virat Kohli-led Indian team completed a 151-run win to take a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series. Siraj eventually finished with eight wickets in the match, scalping 4/94 and chipping in with 4/32 in the second. While he couldn't quite get his name on the famed Lord’s honours board, he has definitely earned the applause and praise of experts and fans alike.
Siraj also hogged the limelight with his bowling performance and celebration antics. The Royal Challengers Bangalore star has been carrying out the ‘finger on the lips' celebration after dismissing the batters ever since the beginning of this series. While many had thought his gesture was towards the batters he dismissed, he disclosed that it was for the critics.
This story is for the haters: Siraj
"This story (celebration) is for the haters (critics) because they used to say a lot of things about me like he cannot do this and cannot do that. So, I will only let my ball do the talking and hence this is my new style of celebration," Siraj said post the third day's play of the second Test at a virtual conference.
While the celebration has already become iconic in more ways than one, Siraj's Hyderabad neighbours have even upped the level as they erected a massive garlanded cut-out of the 27-year-old, in which he can be seen striking the same pose.
Here is an image of the cut out:
Super proud of the whole team: Virat Kohli
The teams are now set to meet at Headingley for the third Test. The first Test match at Trent Bridge had ended in a draw due to continuous rain on the final day with India needing just 157 runs with nine wickets in hands. Nevertheless, captain Virat Kohli was proud of the team's performance and highlighted that the pitch didn’t offer much on the first three days
"Super proud of the whole team, the way we stuck to our plans, being put in our performance with the bat was outstanding. Pitch didn’t offer much in the first three days. But the way we played in the second innings, under pressure, from Jasprit and Shami was outstanding. We thought with 60 overs to go we could have a crack, and they were outstanding. A bit of tension on the field really motivated us to finish the game," Kohli said after the team's win at the post-match press conference.