Every debutant loves to have a captain who gives him freedom on his debut and Mohammed Siraj had exactly the same type of captain in Ajinkya Rahane when he made his Test debut on Saturday during the Boxing Day Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The right-arm pacer found a spot in the playing eleven after Mohammed Shami was ruled out of the series due to a fractured arm.

And he completely justified the faith shown in him by taking two crucial wickets on his debut. He first dismissed a well-set Marnus Labuschagne for 48 before sending back highly-rated Cameron Green cheaply. Siraj’s twin strikes were crucial to India’s dominant display with the ball on day one as they bowled out the hosts for just 195.

Following the end of the day’s play, Siraj highlighted the support he received from Rahane. The Hyderabad pacer revealed how he got the freedom from the skipper to execute his plans and set his own fields. Siraj stated that Rahane had put him at ease by asking him to think of the match as any other first-class encounter.

“Firstly, I am very happy that I got to make my debut. And I had spoken to Rahane and he told me to do whatever I have been doing for India A and domestic cricket. He asked me not to think too much that I was playing for India and bowl my normal stuff,” Siraj said on Sony Sports Network.

“I enjoyed a lot bowling with Rahane as the captain. Because he gave me the freedom to bowl the way I wanted and set my own field. He was also motivating me if one or two balls went bad. So, I was getting the confidence with him,” he added.

Guidance from Jasprit Bumrah

Rahane was not the only man on the field who ensured that Mohammed Siraj plays in the right state of mind on his debut. The debutant also received guidance from the leader of the attack Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj revealed that his senior teammate asked him to concentrate on one delivery at a time and not look too far ahead.

“He was coming to me ball to ball and telling me to just think about the next delivery and not the entire over. He was telling me that I will do well and asked me not to take any tension. So, I also got the confidence because he was with me,” said Siraj.

Meanwhile, India are in a strong spot in the ongoing game thanks to another fine display from the bowlers. Bumrah led the attack with aplomb by taking 4 wickets while spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took 3 wickets. Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja picked up 2 and one wicket respectively. In reply, India were on 36 for 1 at the end of the day.