Indefatigable Mohammed Siraj inspired India to a six-run victory in the fifth and final Test against England, helping the visitors draw the series 2-2. Fired-up Siraj intensified his attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, who missed the fifth Test due to workload management. Siraj took three key wickets on the final day to guide India to one of the most memorable victories in recent times. Resuming on Monday on 339/6, England had needed 35 runs to win the game, but Siraj’s timely interventions destroyed all hopes for England. Buoyed by Siraj’s agility, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, speaking on India’s victory, slammed the “workload management” talk.
"Mohammed Siraj debunked forever this business of workload. I hope that the workload word gets taken out of Indian cricket dictionary. For 5 Test matches, non-stop he has bowled 7-8 over spells, because the captain wanted him and the country expected of him," Gavaskar told India Today.
"And that is one thing I think people keep in mind that workload is a mental thing, not a physical thing and if you are going to succumb to people who are talking about workload then you are never going to have your best players on the field for your country," he added.
Pace spearhead Bumrah played only three games in the series due to workload management. Moreover, Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir, ahead of the series, had already made it clear that Bumrah will only feature in three of the five games.
“When you are playing for your country, forget the aches and the pains. On the border, do you think that the jawans are complaining about cold? What did Rishabh Pant show you? He came out to bat with a fracture. That is what you expect from the players. Playing cricket in India is an honour. Playing cricket in India is an honour. You are representing 140 crore people and that is what we saw in Mohammed Siraj," Gavaskar said.