Sunil Gavaskar blasts Mohammed Siraj for ‘unnecessary’ send-off to Travis head-OxBig News Network

Former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels Mohammed Siraj’s fiery send-off to Travis Head was ‘unnecessary’ on Day 2 of the second Test against Australia at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide. Notably, Siraj dismissed Head for 140 (141) as he thrashed his stumps with a yorker. Following his dismissal, the India fast bowler said a few words to Head to give him a send-off and the Australia batter also gave back.

Following the incident, even the on-field umpires had a word with Siraj. However, the incident didn’t go down well with Sunil Gavaskar who lashed out at Siraj for his antics and said that it was unnecessary. The legendary India batter further called Head a local hero and mentioned that Siraj didn’t get him out for one or two to go overboard with his celebration.

“Unnecessary, if you ask me, the man’s got 140, he hasn’t got four or five or something. You got 140 you’re giving him a send-off totally uncalled for totally uncalled for. No wonder he’s getting the stick from the crowd. He’s a local hero, Travis Head is a local hero and after scoring 100, if he had even just applauded, Siraj would have been a hero for the entire crowd, instead of giving him a send-off, he’s become the villain. Look, the man’s got 140, like I said, if he got out for one or two, then you give him a send-off in a completely different,” said Gavaskar on Star Sports.

AUS vs IND 2nd Test Day 2 Live

Former Australia cricketer Matthew Hayden also shared his thoughts on the incident and said that the emotions got the better of Siraj.

It was probably just a little bit of emotion and passion from Siraj: Hayden

“It was probably just a little bit of emotion and passion from Siraj who’d bowled his heart out as well. So you’ve got to play and read the tea leaves and when you’re a local hero, you’ve just made 140. I can tell you what you just gotta know how to be humble,” said Hayden.

Head scored his eighth Test hundred and second against India smashing 17 fours and four sixes in his innings. Courtesy of his innings of 140 (141), Australia managed to score 337 in the first innings and took a 157-run lead against India. Jasprit Bumrah (4/61) and Mohammed Siraj (4/98) picked up four wickets each.