Sunil Gavaskar Blasts Mohammed Siraj After Fiery Send-Off To Travis Head: "Got Stick From Crowd..."

Mohammed Siraj gave a fiery send-off to Travis Head after dismissing him for 140 on Day 2 in Adelaide.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has described as "unnecessary" the fiery send-off Mohammed Siraj gave to Australian batter Travis Head after the pacer dismissed him for 140 on Day 2 of the second Test at the Adelaide Oval. Gavaskar, speaking on Star Sports, expressed his disapproval of Siraj's actions, emphasising the context of Head's innings. The legendary batter highlighted that Head had played a magnificent knock, becoming a local hero with his eighth Test century and second against India, and Siraj's over-the-top celebration was unwarranted.

“Unnecessary, if you ask me. The man's got 140, he hasn't got out for one or two. You don't give a send-off to someone who's batted brilliantly and won the crowd over. Instead of becoming a hero for dismissing him, Siraj has become the villain,” said Gavaskar. He suggested that Siraj's actions cost him an opportunity to win the respect of the local crowd.

“If Siraj had simply applauded Head after that dismissal, he would have been a hero for everyone in the stadium. Instead, he got the stick from the crowd, and understandably so.”

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden also weighed in, attributing Siraj's actions to emotions running high in the heat of the contest. While Hayden defended Siraj's intensity as a bowler, he pointed out the need for grace in such situations.