India delivered a dominant performance against Australia in the first match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, securing a convincing 295-run victory in Perth to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Stand-in captain Jasprit Bumrah led from the front, taking eight wickets across two innings, while pacer Mohammed Siraj provided outstanding support with five wickets, troubling the Australian batsmen with his speed and accuracy.
For Siraj, this match marked a turning point. The 30-year-old had struggled to make an impact during the home series against New Zealand, where he failed to claim significant wickets. However, in Perth, Siraj bounced back with a stellar performance that showcased his potential. Reflecting on his improvement, he attributed his success to valuable advice from Bumrah and India’s former bowling coach B. Arun.
“Jassy-bhai (Bumrah) told me to focus on being consistent instead of worrying about wickets. I also had a chat with B. Arun (India's former bowling coach) and he too said the same thing, to focus on my skills instead of worrying about wickets,” he added.
Siraj noted that the lively bounce on Australian pitches can be tempting for bowlers but highlighted the importance of discipline.
"Because the bounce is so good, at times you may feel like striking the helmet of a batter. The point is not to be excited and just bowl to your plans," said Siraj.
Addressing the challenges of the pink ball, Siraj remarked that it feels slightly synthetic to hold, but performs similarly to the red ball. He added that while it is said to move more under lights, his experience of bowling first in Perth didn’t allow him to test that theory. He hopes to gain better insights during the day-night Test in Adelaide.
With the second Test set to begin on December 6 in Adelaide, Team India aims to build on their strong start in the series. Siraj’s resurgence, combined with Bumrah’s leadership, has bolstered India’s bowling attack as they prepare to face Australia under the lights.