Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of Gus Atkinson on day 5 of the fifth Test against England at the Oval on August 4, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP
Mohammed Siraj woke up at six o’clock in the morning on Monday (August 4, 2025), took out his phone and searched on the internet for a wallpaper with the word ‘believe’ written on it.
The first thing that he came across was a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Manchester United colours. And for the next few minutes, he looked at the picture and muttered the word ‘believe’ at least a couple of times.
Once the picture made it to his wallpaper, Siraj kept looking at it until reaching The Oval. “I usually wake up at 8 o’clock, but today, I got up early. So I Googled this picture and downloaded it, because I knew I could do it for my country. It’s important to believe in yourself,” he said, after claiming a five-for and guiding India to an incredible six-run win in the fifth Test.
With Jasprit Bumrah featuring in just three Tests to manage his workload, Siraj stepped up and backed himself to carry out the role of the senior pacer. Not making a fuss about workload or a quick turnaround time, Siraj bowled 185.3 overs in the series — 1,113 deliveries to be specific — and finished as the leading wicket-taker of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with 23 scalps.
“To be honest, my body is fine right now. It has been almost 186 overs in this series. But when you play for your country you give everything and you don’t think about whether you bowled six overs or nine overs. I believe that I bowl every ball for the country and not for myself,” Siraj said, adding with a smile: “You play for the country and give your everything, the rest is not in your control.”
He claimed 20 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, providing excellent support to Bumrah. But leading the pack in England, he shone bright.
His feet touched the boundary rope while trying to catch Harry Brook when the batter was on 19. Brook scored a smashing ton and it looked like the match slipping from India’s grasp.
“I didn’t think I’d touch the cushion when I took it. It was a match-changing moment. Brook got into T20 moment. We were behind the game after that but Thank God. I thought the match was gone,” Siraj said.
Published – August 04, 2025 05:15 pm IST
