Mohammed Siraj’s strained relationship with Australian cricket fans continued on Day 1 of the third Test between India and Australia at the Gabba on December 14. The Indian pacer received strong boos from the home crowd as he came on to bowl, a direct continuation of the animosity stemming from his heated on-field exchange with Travis Head during the pink-ball Test in Adelaide.
India skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first after winning the toss, entrusting his pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep to exploit the early conditions. As Siraj took the ball, the Gabba crowd erupted with boos, intensifying the already charged atmosphere of this pivotal Border-Gavaskar Trophy match. The tension added fuel to an unfolding rivalry between Siraj and Australian cricket fans, following their clashes in the second Test.
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In Adelaide, Siraj and Head had engaged in a fiery verbal spat after India pacer dismissed the Australian batter, who had already hammered 140 runs off 141 balls. Siraj’s animated celebration of Head’s wicket led to a heated exchange between the two, forcing the on-field umpires to step in and defuse the situation. The Adelaide crowd jeered Siraj, who seemed to channel the hostility into a more aggressive bowling approach. This action even led to both Head and Siraj being handed a hefty fine from the International Cricket Council (ICC).
The boos at the Gabba mirrored those in Adelaide, further underlining Siraj’s polarising presence in Australia. For the Indian pacer, such encounters have often brought out his combative best, with fans eagerly waiting to see if he can make a breakthrough in Brisbane.
Despite rain interruptions halting play twice, India’s pacers remained determined. Siraj, with his fiery demeanour and ability to swing the ball, is seen as a crucial weapon against the Australian opening pair of Usman Khawaja and Nathan McSweeny. As the third Test progresses, Siraj’s performance and his interactions with the Gabba crowd will undoubtedly be under the spotlight.
