"A rap on the knuckles helps at times" - Aakash Chopra lauds Mohammed Siraj's spell on Day 4 of BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Aakash Chopra reckons Mohammed Siraj got fired up on Day 4 of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 fourth Test because of Akash Deep being given the new ball ahead of him apart from media criticism. He noted that the Hyderabad seamer wasn't as penetrative and disciplined earlier.

Siraj registered figures of 3/66 in 22 overs as Australia ended the penultimate day (Sunday, December 29) of the fourth Test against India in Melbourne at 228/9. The hosts have a 333-run lead heading into the final day, with Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland unbeaten at the crease.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener opined that Siraj's hurt pride helped him perform better.

"Finally that fire. He had picked up wickets but the fire wasn't seen. He had taken a few wickets but was looking wayward. He didn't have that much penetration and discipline. I am talking about Siraj. A rap on the knuckles helps at times. Your pride is hurt. I think that's what has happened," he said (5:20).

Chopra pointed out that the right-arm seamer scalped the crucial wickets of Marnus Labuschagne, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith in Australia's second innings.

"As soon as Akash Deep was given the new ball as Siraj was not pulling his weight and there was a lot of scrutiny in the media as well, Mohammed Siraj's fire got ignited. He picked up the important wicket of Labuschagne, hit Khawaja's stumps, was slightly lucky with Smith's dismissal, but he got the wicket," he observed.

Chopra noted that Siraj is an emotional character. He added that it was like someone had flirted with a bee nest.

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"From where do you get such rotten luck?"- Aakash Chopra on Akash Deep's wicketless spell

Akash Deep's 17 overs in Australia's second innings didn't yield him a wicket. [P/C: Getty]

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that Akash Deep has been unlucky not to pick up a wicket in Australia's second innings thus far.

"One person is looking good and is getting the fruits. The other person is looking good but is not getting the fruits. Akash Deep - from where do you get such rotten luck? It seems like two or three wickets should fall in every over but nothing to show for his efforts. It's happening time and again," he said (6:55).

The cricketer-turned-commentator added that Marnus Labuschagne was particularly lucky not to fall prey to the Bengal seamer.

"It happened in the last match and has happened here. It happened in the last innings. He is bowling beautifully many times but not for the same rewards. Luck was in Marnus Labuschagne's favor. It's said luck changes if you keep working hard. So I would say that for Akash Deep and Mohammed Siraj has changed his luck," Chopra observed.

Akash Deep registered figures of 0/53 in 17 overs on Day 4 of the Boxing Day Test. Apart from Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah (4/56) and Ravindra Jadeja (1/33) were among the wickets, with Mitchell Starc getting run out.