India vs Australia, 3rd Test: Mohammed Siraj breaks down in tears ahead of the SCG game [Watch]

India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj broke down in tears during the national anthem ahead of the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Thursday. The Hyderabad based pacer tried hard to hide his emotions but could not.

Siraj was handed his Test debut at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the Boxing Day Test. He had returned with great figures of 5 for 77 as India completed a comeback after losing the opening Test.

Mohammad Siraj got emotional during India's national anthem. pic.twitter.com/UKPvquF0ez

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 6, 2021

In the second Test at MCG last month, Siraj finished with figures of 3 for 37 and 2 for 40, thereby picking up five wickets across two innings as Australia were bowled out for 195 and 200. Siraj, who conceded at less than two runs in the second innings and less than three in the first innings, joined Lasith Malinga in the list of visiting fast bowlers taking five or more wickets on debut on Australian soil in the last five decades. Malinga, who made his Test debut in 2004 against Australia in Darwin, had claimed 6 for 92.

Siraj, who has stepped up to show responsibility in the absence of senior quicks such as Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, and Umesh Yadav, was included in India's playing XI for the third Test as well. The young bowler has managed to impress Down Under despite suffering a heavy personal loss back at home.

Australian skipper Tim Paine won the toss on Thursday and opted to bat. David Warner, who had missed the Twenty20 International (T20I) series and the first two Tests due to a groin injury, returned to the side. While Australia had expected their senior batsman to create an immediate impact at the top of the order, Warner lasted at the crease only for eight deliveries as Siraj was successful in giving Team India an early breakthrough.

On the third ball of his fourth over, Warner nicked a wide delivery from Siraj to Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip. Siraj, who opened India's bowling on Thursday along with Bumrah, celebrated his Test career's sixth wicket by putting one of his fingers on his lips. Warner claimed an unwanted record after getting out for five.

This was for the first time in his last 25 home Test innings and four years that Warner had departed inside an individual score of 10 runs. In November of 2016, Warner was dismissed for 1 run in a Test in Hobart against South Africa.

The ongoing New Year's Test has two debutants, one from each side. India have handed Test debut to fast bowler Navdeep Saini, while Will Pucovski has finally made his debut in the whites for Australia, becoming Warner's 12th opening partner in Test cricket.