'Shahbaz Ahmed did the job for us' - Mohammed Siraj showers praise on RCB all-rounder after his three-wicket haul against SRH

Shahbaz Ahmed’s spell with the ball turned out to be the game-changer for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side in the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The left-arm spin bowler scalped 3 wickets in the 2 overs that he bowled, to turn the momentum completely in favor of the RCB side.

And now, RCB pacer Mohammed Siraj has praised the likes of Shahbaz Ahmed and Rajat Patidar. Siraj stated that both Rajit Patidar, as well as Shahbaz Ahmed, have been brilliant in the practice games that the Bangalore side has played.

Adding that Shahbaz gives the team management the extra option as he is an allrounder, Siraj revealed that the team management decides the best team combination based on the conditions as well as the opponents.

“Both Shahbaz Ahmed and Rajat Patidar have been brilliant in the practice games. Shahbaz, as an all-rounder, gives us that extra option with his left-arm spin. The team management decides on the best-possible combination considering the conditions and opponents. Shahbaz Ahmed fitted into it for this game and did the job for us,” revealed Siraj in the post-match press conference.

Mohammed Siraj reveals the reason why Shahbaz Ahmed bowled ahead of Washington Sundar

Mohammed Siraj also stated that Virat Kohli tossed the ball to Shahbaz Ahmed ahead of Washington Sundar because of the fact that two right-handers were out in the middle. Siraj concluded by stating that Ahmed played a key role in changing the match.

“We had overs left of Washington Sundar too. But Virat bhai (Virat Kohli) thought with two right-handers (Manish Pandey and Jonny Bairstow) at the crease, a left-arm spinner could be brought (in the 14th over). He created a chance with Manish Pandey in his first over, and that’s why he bowled another, and that changed the game,” concluded Mohammed Siraj.

Batting first, the RCB side posted a total of 149/8 on the board. Glenn Maxwell was the catalyst of the RCB batting lineup and scored 59 off 41 deliveries. In reply, the SRH side could only manage to score 143/9 in their allotted 20 overs and went down by 6 runs. The RCB side has now won both the matches that they have played thus far and has experienced a rousing start to their 2021 IPL campaign.