Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Mohammed Siraj is covering up for the loss of his skills by using his experience and giving a lion-hearted effort. Siraj got the two crucial wickets in the first hour of the fourth day’s play against England on Sunday.

The fast bowler got the big wicket of Ben Duckett with Jasprit Bumrah taking a catch at mid-on. Furthermore, Siraj also accounted for Ollie Pope as he plumbed the England vice-captain in front of the wickets.

Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPN Cricinfo, “He doesn’t have the skills he had at the start of his career so he uses his experience and just this lion-hearted effort to run in and believes that he can get a wicket from every ball. The scrambled seam is working beautifully for him. The amount of bowling he did, a seven-over spell, and he would have even carried on a couple of overs if needed. But, this is what Siraj is at this stage of his career.”

Manjrekar also showered praise on Mohammed Siraj’s fitness and said the fast bowler doesn’t have any fitness issues. Siraj bowled seven overs on the bounce in the first hour of play and gave his 120%.

“It’s nice to have a Siraj in your team because he doesn’t seem to have too many fitness issues. And those are the ones the Indian selectors also need to start backing. Those who are going to be durable rather than those that perform in one game and suddenly have a problem with their fitness in the second,” said Manjrekar.

Siraj returned with figures of 2-31 in the 13 overs he bowled. The fast bowler returned with figures of 2-85 in the first innings of the third Test.

India ended the fourth day at 58-4, and the visitors need 135 more runs to win.