IND vs AUS: Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami dent Australian hopes with twin strikes

The Test series opener between India and Australia got off to a rollicking start after the hosts drew first blood in the series. The Australian skipper Pat Cummins won the toss in Nagpur and opted to bat first with the controversy surrounding the Nagpur surface. However, his decision backfired after the pacer Mohammed Siraj struck with his first ball of the series to dismiss Usman Khawaja.

The visiting Australian team forced the hosts to bowl first on a track which is deemed to turn big, according to the pitch reports. It was a sensible decision considering the Indian pitches deteriorate rapidly. But Mohammed Siraj stamped his mark on the series with his very first delivery, trapping Usman Khawaja in front of the wicket. The Aussie opener missed his flick as the ball nipped back a bit and also kept low.

Siraj, who recently climbed to the top of the ODI bowling rankings, dished out a brilliant wicket maiden to push the Aussies on the back foot. Before the visitors could even recover from that initial blow, Mohammed Shami sent David Warner's off stump flying with the first delivery of his second over. Warner was caught at the crease as the ball sneaked through the gap between his pad and the bat.

𝑰. 𝑪. 𝒀. 𝑴. 𝑰!

1⃣ wicket for @mdsirajofficial 👌
1⃣ wicket for @MdShami11 👍

Relive #TeamIndia's early strikes with the ball 🎥 🔽 #INDvAUS | @mastercardindia pic.twitter.com/K5kkNkqa7U

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 9, 2023

The twin strikes left the Aussie reeling at 2/2 before Steve Smith and Marnus Marnus Labuschagne joined hands in the middle. The two top-ranked Test batters are the biggest threat to the Indian bowlers as they are capable of churning out runs on the most treacherous of pitches. The surface in Nagpur has already seen plenty of assistance to the bowlers with the ball not only moving but also keeping a bit low every now and then.

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