Picture Credit: Twitter
The 1st T20I between India and New Zealand produced a very exciting first half of the innings with quite a lot happening on international cricket's return to Jaipur after 8 years. From Bhuvneshwar's magical in-swinger to Ravichandran Ashwin showing his class, from some brilliant efforts on the field to some easy chances being missed, from some glorious shots to some careless hits, it was indeed an action-packed half of T20 cricket.
Much to everyone's delight, there weren't any injury concerns. However, it wasn't long when this changed as a scary incident also took place at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in final over of the first innings. As Mohammed Siraj fired in to bowl a full delivery, Mitchell Santner played a bullet shot straight at the bowler and the Indian pacer, in the process of saving the ball, got hit on his left hand.
It was quite a scary blow and the 27-year-old visibly looked in lot of pain. The physios ran onto the field to tend Siraj's injury and it was looking that it was the end of bowler's evening in Jaipur. Considering the chilly weather in Jaipur, the hard hit on his hand was going to hurt more and it was never going to be easy to overcome the pain and bowl again in such a short span of time.
Watch the video here:
Siraj takes a wicket after getting his hand taped
But Siraj is a fighter! The right-arm pacer got taping on his injured left hand and he ran in once again to complete the remaining over. He bowled a superb over and only gave away 7 runs, while also dismissing Rachin Ravindra with a peach of a delivery.
Got injured but continued to bowl and he bowled a perfect delivery to pick up a wicket.. just for his efforts, he is rewarded with a wicket " said on-air commentator Laxman Sivaramakrishnan while praising Siraj.
Although an official statement on the injury is yet to come out from the team management, there is a possibility that the pacer might be rested for the next two games to have him fully fit for the Test series against New Zealand and South Africa respectively. In such a scenario, Harshal Patel or Avesh Khan might be in contention to get a place in India's playing XI in the 2nd T20I.