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Mohammed Siraj Backet Winner Bowler: Siraj bowled 185.3 overs on England tour. He played an important role in India in the Oval Test victory. The Indian team is becoming more dependent not only on Jaspreet Bumrah but also on Mohammad Siraj’s bowling. Siraj took the most 23 wickets in this series.
Mohammad Siraj made history by hitting more than 1100 balls on England tour. He recorded a big achievement by taking the most wickets in this series. After the debut in international cricket, Jaspreet Bumrah’s Chhatra Chhaya was always on Mohammad Siraj, but at the Oval, this fast bowler made a distinct identity with his brilliant spell.
After India’s T20 World Cup win in Barbados last year, Siraj got emotional and said with moist eyes, ‘I only believe in Jassi Bhai.’, After 13 months, it was now the turn of Siraj to do something similar. He turned the dice of the match with his brilliant bowling and gave India a memorable victory against England and raised his stature even more in the eyes of the fans with the Indian dressing room.
Bumrah was not included in the team under the charge management in the fifth Test match against England. In such a situation, the responsibility of leading Indian bowling came on Siraj. Siraj is the only fast bowler to play five matches of this series.
Mohammad Siraj bowled 185.3 overs in the series, defying fatigue during this period. He also became the most successful bowler of this series with 23 wickets. There were many moments during the series when Siraj did not get wickets despite continuous bowling.
However, instead of being desperate on this, he said, ‘Maybe Allah should have another plan for me’. In the second innings of England, after dismissing Jack Crowley and Oli Pope, he caught the boundary after holding Harry Brook’s catch, after which he could feel disappointed on his face.
In the morning session on the fifth day of the match, he compensated for the lapse during fielding with his sharp bowling. After this exciting victory of India, when captain Shubman Gill was asked whether the Indian team now believes in Siraj as much as Bumrah, the Indian captain answered it in ‘yes’.
Shubman Gill said, ‘This is not just the case. We used to say earlier that we believe in Siraj Bhai. In this match, the way he tried, we would feel bad if we had lost. However, respect for him in the dressing room does not reduce, because they have earned this hard work, one moment cannot define you.
Gill said in a proud manner, “He has worked so hard for the last 4-5 years and he has earned this.” Siraj’s relationship with the game is very true and it is clearly visible from his full dedication on the oval ground.
Siraj, sitting with Gill during a conversation with the media after the match, said, ‘Cricket is my first love.’ Siraj said emotionally, ‘I can do anything for cricket. If I lose the match, I feel very sad. When I do not do well, I feel very sad, I have worked very hard in life since childhood, so I give everything for him. After this performance, fans will also trust their Mian Bhai (Siraj’s surname) like Jassi Bhai.