Ind vs SA 2nd Test: Tendulkar and Harbhajan hail Mohammed Siraj for his fiery spell

Promising speedster Mohammed Siraj led the way as India demolished South African batting lineup in the first session of the second Test in Cape Town on Wednesday. 

The pacer of the visiting team ran through the South African lineup like hot knife through butter and the hosts were skittled out for a record low score of 55 runs. It is the lowest score for the Proteas in Test cricket since 1932. The South African batting line-up could last just 23.2 overs as Siraj ended with figures of 6/15. 

55 is also the lowest score by any team against India in Test cricket, going past the 62 that New Zealand were all out for at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in December 2021.

Siraj is the first Indian to take five wickets in a single session of a Test match since 2011. Since 2016, he is also the second Indian pacer after his teammate Jasprit Bumrah to take six wickets in a single session.

Siraj drew a lot of praise from all quarters with a number of former India players praising him on social media, including the legendary Sachin Tendulkar.

“Siraj weaving magic at Newlands! Impeccable length and a spellbinding display of seam bowling!” Siraj wrote on his social media account X (earlier known as Twitter).

Siraj weaving magic at Newlands! Impeccable length and a spellbinding display of seam bowling!#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/keq8mJQLat

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) January 3, 2024

“Mh Siraj 6 wickets for 15 runs. South Africa all out 55 in Cape Town .. wah Team India Mzaaaa aa gyaaa,” tweeted former India off-spinner Harbhajan.

Responding to Siraj’s fiery spell, former India opener Wasim Jaffer wrote, “Outstanding display of seam bowling. Length, accuracy, movement everything just perfect. Well bowled Siraj. To bowl the opposition out in first session when they’ve elected to bat first is crazy.”