India pacer and Player of the Match Mohammed Siraj, who bowled more overs and took more wickets in the series than anyone from either side, says he gets highly emotional when representing the nation
Mohammed Siraj celebrates India’s victory after dismissing England’s Gus Atkinson at the Oval, London, on Monday. Pic/Bipin Patel
“He’s got this, like, fake angriness about him sometimes, which I can see straight through. He’s actually a really nice lad, but he tries it incredibly hard.”
As compliments go, this will be hard to beat. Joe Root said a million nice things about Mohammed Siraj on Sunday evening, but this was as lovely as it gets, a true tribute from one unyielding competitor to another.
Lion-hearted hero
Off the field, Siraj is docile, quiet, unassuming. But once he crosses the boundary rope, he is seized by white-line fever. He snarls and snaps, but a smile is never far away. No one has worn a wry grin after repeatedly beating the bat with greater panache than the lion-hearted Hyderabadi, who worked his way into every Indian’s heart after his heroics at the Oval on Monday morning.
His second five-wicket haul of the series also came in a winning cause, much like his six for 70 in Birmingham last month. This was even more special because it helped the team leave England with the series square, with honours shared. Siraj bowled more overs than anyone else from either side, he took more wickets than anyone else from either side. But he hasn’t been one for numbers, and when he says he doesn’t care about results so long as he follows the processes and focuses on giving his best every ball, there is no reason to be cynical or disbelieving.
The 56 minutes of play on Monday, which England began needing 35 for victory with four wickets standing, typified all things Siraj. He was brilliant, fusing control with swing, but he also looked out for others. Like Prasidh Krishna, who went for fours off the first two deliveries of the morning. Like Dhruv Jurel, who ought to have run an injured Chris Woakes out but did not take off his right glove and therefore missed the stumps. Siraj isn’t just about himself; he cares for his colleagues, for the team, for India.
By his own admission, he is a very emotional individual, and every bit of that emotion was on view when he spoke of how much the sport meant to him. “Cricket is my first love,” he said, the Player-of-the-Match medal proudly nestling on his chest. “I can do anything for it, hence my passion, dedication. When we lose a match, I feel very sad. When I don’t perform, I feel very sad. I have worked very hard all my life for the sake of cricket, I have given it my everything.”
‘Country comes first’
Siraj poop-poohs praise for bowling so many overs so well, pointing to the position of privilege he claims he finds himself in. “When, out of 1.4 billion people, you are one of 11 selected to play a Test match, it is a massive thing,” he pointed out. “I always think of what I can do for my country. Today [Monday], the way we won the match, there is a smile on the faces of 1.4 billion people. What more can one ask for?”
For one more Siraj, maybe?
23
No. of wickets claimed by India’s Mohammed Siraj — the most by any bowler in this five-Test series
185.3
No. of overs bowled by Siraj — the most by any bowler in this series
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
