Mohammed Siraj, India
India’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates with Dhruv Jurel after taking the wicket of England’s Gus Atkinson
Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered a masterclass in swing bowling to inspire India to victory in the decisive final Test against England at The Oval. His fiery five-wicket haul in the second innings tore through the English batting lineup, sealing a crucial win for his side and cementing his status as a key figure in this evolving Indian Test team.
Siraj took nine wickets across both innings in the final Test match of an intense series that went right down to the wire. On the fifth day, the seam bowler was inspired, charging in repeatedly, moving the ball a mile and looking dangerous with every delivery.
Speaking to broadcasters immediately after the result the 31-year-old said: “I was just thinking that I should bowl in the right areas.
“I always believed myself that I will do it for the team.”
The selectors placed an enormous amount of responsibility and expectation on Siraj in the build-up to this series-defining Test. They named him as the replacement after ruling out their usual star bowler, Jasprit Bumrah.
The two had interacted in the days leading up to the match with Siraj revealing to BCCI.tv: “I asked Jassi, brother, why are you going? Who’ll I come to hug when I take a five-wicket haul? He just said, ‘I am here, you go and take five wickets’.”
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Siraj kept his promise and delivered a masterclass in bowling under immense pressure. It took only two overs for the quick to find his rhythm, removing the dangerous Jamie Smith before going on to dismiss the last recognised batter, Jamie Overton not long after. With England’s batting in shambles, Siraj stepped up once more to deliver a snorting in-swinging yorker to rattle the stumps of Gus Atkinson and complete an iconic Indian victory.
Gus Atkinson is bowled by India’s Mohammed siraj
Indeed, the Hyderabad man’s role was pivotal. This was largely because Akash Deep appeared significantly below par for much of this last Test, which in turn left captain Shubman Gill with just two seamers to juggle when attempting to pick the English batting lock.Siraj’s mammoth effort across 30 overs of bowling was essential to securing the series draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar cup.
Even more impressive was Siraj’s record across the rest of the series. The swing bowler finished as the top wicket taker with 23 wickets from just 9 innings, emphasising his importance in this new form India Test side. The Hyderabad born quick had also played a match winning role in the earlier Edgbaston Test, taking 7 wickets in the match to haul India level in the series at 1-1.
India’s Mohammed Siraj poses after winning the player of the match award
Player of the Week undoubtedly goes to Mohammed Siraj. While his wickets were crucial, his selection was ultimately for the statement he made. After all, in a transitional India side missing giants like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Siraj stepped up when it mattered most. His relentless energy, precision, and hunger turned the tide for India, with both Test wins arriving after his inclusion at the expense of Jasprit Bumrah. It’s a bold new era for Indian cricket, and Siraj looks ready to lead the charge from the front.