'Emotions were running high' - Mohammed Siraj reveals feelings during final over of 2nd ODI against West Indies

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, who is a part of the playing combination that is facing the West Indies in the ongoing ODI series, opened up about the emotions that he went through after India clinched a thrilling victory in the second ODI on Sunday, 24 July. After chasing down a huge score of 312, the visitors won the game by two wickets with two balls remaining.

With Shai Hope smashing a beautiful hundred earlier in the first innings, West Indies batters had a blast on the field. His innings included eight fours and three sixes, as he notched up 115 runs off 135 deliveries. Skipper Nicholas Pooran was great support on the field as he joined him in power-hitting and scored 74 runs in his tenure.

The Indian innings in response got off to a poor start, and by the time of the 18th over, Shubman Gill, Shikhar Dhawan, and Suryakumar Yadav had departed. Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer, though, formed a potent alliance that shifted the game in India’s favor. Iyer eventually scored 63 runs, while Samson amassed 54.

Axar Patel assumed the role of the finisher after the duo left the field and led India to victory with brilliant innings of an unbeaten 64 runs off of 35 balls. In a video posted by the BCCI on Twitter, Siraj, who was at the other end when Patel struck the winning runs, and finished off the game in style with a six, spoke candidly about the triumph.

We all had the self-belief: Mohammed Siraj

“Oh my god, don’t ask brother. Emotions were running high, Axar Patel was pumped up, we all had the self-belief, even I had the belief of hitting a six but me taking a single was more sensible,” said Siraj.

Reactions from the dugout and change room as @akshar2026 sealed the ODI series in style 😎👏#TeamIndia #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/ZB8B6CMEbP

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 25, 2022

India’s hunt for a series white-wash

Win the resounding win, India clinched the ODI series with a match to spare. The final game will be played on July 27 as visitors India would aim to white-wash the series against West Indies on their home soil. The two teams will then play a five-match T20I series, the first three of which will be hosted by the Caribbean nation. The two teams will move to Florida for the final two T20Is.