Cricket

'Toh kya ho gaya?' - Fans react as video of Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik refusing tilak goes viral

Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik refused to have 'tilak' ahead of the first Test and here's how fans have reacted.

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Daniel S
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'Toh kya ho gaya?' - Fans react as video of Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik refusing tilak goes viral

'Toh kya ho gaya?' - Fans react as video of Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik refusing tilak goes viral (Image Source: Twitter)

India crushed New Zealand in the T20Is 2-1 and the team to be led by Rohit Sharma are toiling hard in the nets to face off Australia in a four-match Test series set to get underway on February 9. That being said, the Indian team reached Nagpur and were warmly welcomed at the hotel in Nagpur.

However, in a usual ritual, the hotel staff welcomed the team with ‘tilak’ and were refused by a few. Out of them was team India pacers Mohammed Siraj and Umran Malik, who ended up facing backlash for the same on Twitter and other social media networks. The likes of Vikram Rathour, the batting coach, refused to get ‘tilak’ on his forehead as well, eventually facing the heat on the internet. 

Australia are giving it their all for the series and using spin tracks to brace for spinners like veterans Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja and there were also reports of the Baggy Greens studying the footage of young allrounder Axar Patel, who is fast-becoming India’s trusted allrounder across all formats. 

Watch the video featuring Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik here: 

Once we get to Nagpur, we’ll see: Pat Cummins

Ahead of the series, the Australian skipper Pat Cummins opened up on the Nagpur pitch and claimed that the team would look to give it their all in the upcoming series. Further, the pacer added that they would decide their playing XI once they reach the venue and take a look at the surface for the first Test. 

“I wouldn’t say (picking two spinners) is a given. Obviously, it is conditions dependent, particularly this first Test. Once we get to Nagpur, we’ll see. I think sometimes when talking about a couple of spinners, you forget how good a lot of our fast bowlers have been in all conditions,” Cummins was quoted as saying. 

“It is a big series. One of the reasons is because India gets a lot of attention anytime you play against them, but also, their record here is good. It is always a tough tour for overseas teams - to come here and win,” he added. 

Here's how fans have reacted to Mohammed Siraj, Umran Malik refusing to have 'tilak':

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