Mohammed Siraj's match-winning spell in The Oval Test reminded us all what Test cricket -- and fast bowling -- is truly about: Discipline, endurance, and unwavering grit, says Aadharsh A V.
In a series that tested bodies and minds, Mohammed Siraj gave his all, pushing his physical and mental limits to bowl with intensity and commitment till the last ball.
The final delivery of the eventful series was a powerful indicator of his relentlessness and positive mindset.
After bowling 1,112 balls this summer, he came up with one of his fastest deliveries of the series -- a 143 kmph searing yorker -- to uproot Gus Atkinson's stumps and win the game for India on a pulsating Day 5 at The Oval.
It was a performance that reminded us all what Test cricket -- and fast bowling -- is truly about: Discipline, endurance, and unwavering grit.
Remarkably, the 31-year-old Hyderabadi never let the intensity dip in a series where pitches have mostly been a nightmare for bowlers, and fittingly ended up as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps.
In the series opener at Leeds which England won by five wickets, Siraj struggled with his length and had to be content with only two wickets.
He came back strongly with a seven-wicket haul in the second Test at Birmingham, leading the pace attack in Jasprit Bumrah's absence and playing a pivotal role in India's historic 336 run victory.
In the third Test at Lord's, he took 2/85 and 2/31 in two innings as England won the keenly contested tie by 22 runs. With the bat, he gave India a fighting chance, stitching a crucial last-wicket partnership with Ravindra Jadeja -- only to fall agonisingly short.
In the drawn fourth Test at Old Trafford where batters called the shots, he bowled 30 overs but could manage only a single wicket.
He ended the series with a nine wicket haul, including a fifer in the second innings, in the final Test at The Oval, capping off a memorable tour with a match-winning effort.
One thing that Siraj does possess is a big heart. A tireless performer, he kept charging in with intent, often dragging the team out of the hole and was the only Indian pacer to play all five Tests.
Siraj showcased his exceptional stamina and unwavering spirit throughout the series, drawing admiration from Bowling Coach Morne Morkel.
'He's a guy in that changing room who will lead the way, he's a natural leader. Although vocally he doesn't speak a lot, I think he leads a lot with his actions. In this series, he's done it with the ball at times when we've needed somebody to put his hand up and create something. Even if it was bowling an extra two to three overs or creating an opportunity for us, he's been that guy,' Morkel said.
According to Abhishek AB, an X user, no fast bowler has taken more wickets than Siraj in overseas Test wins this decade and almost every time, his performance has been central to India's triumphs.
His match-winning performances abroad include five wickets at the MCG in 2020, 6 at the Gabba in 2021, 8 at Lord's in 2021, 7 in Cape Town in 2024, 5 in Perth in 2024, 7 in Birmingham in 2025, and 9 wickets at The Oval in this series.
Siraj has once again showed the world that even on the flattest of wickets and most hopeless situations, he will never stop trying!
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