The tale behind Siraj’s spell that crushed Kolkata Knight Riders

By K.R. Nayar

Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer who came up the hard way responds to those who snubbed him last year

Through an unbelievable and devastating spell, Mohammad Siraj ensured it was his night and not that of Kolkata Knight Riders at the Abu Dhabi Zayed Cricket Stadium. Kolkata had won the toss and promptly elected to bat unaware that this lanky pacer would destroy their top order through one of the deadliest spells in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

Even Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli, who picked Siraj replacing  Shahbaz Ahmed, would not have expected such a show from this Hyderabad pacer. In his last match at Sharjah against Kings XI Punjab on October 15th, Siraj was hit for 44 runs in three overs and did not even pick a wicket. After dropping him for the match against Rajasthan Royals, Kohli opted to pick him again.

As the son of an autorickshaw driver, Siraj, who came up in his career overcoming the toughest of challenges to make it to the Indian team, responded to his captain’s faith in him. The result was that he not only wrecked Kolkata’s batting but also created history by becoming the first bowler to bowl two maiden overs in the IPL. His spell of 4-2-8-3 is something any bowler would dream of. This spell was also an answer to those who had criticised him following his One Day debut against Australia last year in which he was hit for 76 runs in ten overs with no wicket. Social media was filled with remarks questioning his selection, with remarks stating that he has wasted an opportunity for others.

It was a fresh wicket in Abu Dhabi and Kolkata's World Cup-winning skipper Eoin Morgan read it wrongly after winning the toss. Unfortunately for Kolkata, the wicket became easy only as the match progressed. And the impact of Siraj’s bowling made batting tougher. When Chris Morris and Washington Sundar too bowled one maiden over each along with Siraj’s two, Bangalore had bowled four maiden overs, which is most number of maiden overs bowled in an IPL inning.

Additionally, not playing their best players Andre Russell and Sunil Narine too contributed to Kolkata's defeat. Their star batsman Dinesh Karthik’s weakness against leg spin was evident when he fell to Bangalore’s Yuzvendra Chahal. This is the fifth time he has fallen to a leg spinner this season.

Except for Morgan who hit 30 runs and the 27 runs eighth wicket partnership between Lockie Ferguson and Kuldeep Yadav, there wasn’t any effort to lift the team. Bangalore openers Devdutt Padikkal and Aaron Finch ended Kolkata’s nightmare by racing to the target through a 46 runs partnership and winning in just 13.3 overs.