Mohammed Siraj Draws First Blood in WTC Final Against Australia

The WTC Final 2023 between India and Australia has finally started, and Australia came to bat first. David Warner and Usman Khawaja were brought in to open for Australia, and Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj dismissed Usman Khawaja for a duck. This was the opening wicket of the WTC Final 2023.

Also read: Despite Performing Well in BGT Ashwin Got Snubbed From WTC Final

Siraj departs Khawaja as Srikar Bharat caught him! Cut off and gone! The wobbling seam delivery, which travels at 144 kph, cuts a length just outside of centre. That might have been ignored, but Khawaja pushes and nicks away. For the keeper, a simple grasp is required. Khawaja was unsure of whether he had nicked.

Warner and he had a conversation, and they opted against reviewing it. From the first ball, India has been on the money, and they have made an early breakthrough. Later, David Warner was taken out of the game at 43 by Shardul Thakur in the interim.

Edged & taken! 👌 👌

Early success with the ball for #TeamIndia, courtesy @mdsirajofficial 👏 👏

Australia lose Usman Khawaja!

Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/0nYl21pwaw #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/3v73BKFQgD

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 7, 2023

Australia has the advantage after scoring 73/2 at lunch in the first session of the day. This came after Rohit Sharma and company chose to bowl first against Australia in the World Test Championship Final.

For the second session, Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith proceed to the centre. In place are three slips and a gully. With the ball, Siraj begins with a loosener that flies down the side of his leg. As it flies above Smith’s head, it is called broad. Just outside off-stump, the following two balls are more full. Smith blasts it off his pads to the fine-leg for a couple while in full on middle. Through some deft movement, Shami prevents it from reaching the boundary.