Mohammed Siraj was the backbone of India’s bowling attack in the thrilling five-match Test series against England, finishing as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps. His tireless efforts, match after match, set the tone for India’s hard-fought campaign. Akash Deep, who shared the new ball with him, couldn’t help but applaud his teammate’s unwavering determination.
Playing every single Test in the series and maintaining that level of intensity till the very end is no small feat. Akash Deep acknowledged this in a candid chat with Boria Majumdar on Revsportz. “Playing continuously for five Test matches, and so much effort till the last match is really commendable,” he said. “Everyone has witnessed that. So much effort was bound to bring a positive result.”
When asked if this was Siraj’s best performance, Akash offered a nuanced perspective. “Given how much I have seen him play, I cannot say this was the best, but he definitely had a different mindset,” he explained. “He wanted us to keep believing that we were going to do it. He gave us constant confidence that we would take wickets.”
Test cricket can be grueling, and the pressure often mounts when conventional strategies don’t yield immediate results. Akash highlighted how Siraj’s positivity became a driving force for the team. “In Test matches sometimes, the confidence goes down because we cannot apply T20 tactics,” he said. “But Siraj kept showing us a positive, confident body language even in those times when the way forward was unknown.”
Siraj’s numbers speak for themselves. With 23 wickets at an average of over 32, including two five-wicket hauls and a four-fer, he was relentless. Bowling a staggering 185 overs—the most by any bowler in the series—he carried the attack on his shoulders. His spell at The Oval was particularly memorable, where he turned the game on its head by dismantling England’s middle order after they seemed to be cruising at 301/4.
The series had its share of twists. England opted to bowl first in the final Test and quickly reduced India to 153/6. Karun Nair and Washington Sundar staged a brief recovery with a 58-run stand, but India was eventually bowled out for 224. England’s Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue were the chief destroyers, sharing eight wickets between them.
India’s second innings saw standout performances from Yashasvi Jaiswal (118), Akash Deep (66), Ravindra Jadeja (53), and Washington Sundar (53). Sundar’s explosive 46-ball fifty, including four sixes, was a highlight, especially during the unbroken 10th-wicket partnership where he did all the scoring while Krishna held up the other end. India set England a daunting target of 374.
England started strong in their chase, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett putting on 92 for the first wicket. Harry Brook and Joe Root then piled on the runs with a 195-run partnership, bringing England agonizingly close to victory. But Siraj and Prasidh Krishna had other plans. Their late burst of wickets left England six runs short, sealing a dramatic win for India.
Siraj’s belief and relentless energy were the defining themes of India’s success. His ability to inspire his teammates, even in the toughest moments, proved just as valuable as his wicket-taking prowess.