In a thrilling fifth Test against England at The Oval, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was the hero, taking a five-wicket haul in the second innings that was instrumental in securing a six-run victory for his team. The win drew the series 2-2, and Siraj was named Man of the Match for his stellar nine-wicket performance in the game.
However, in a post-match interview with the BCCI, Siraj revealed that despite his success, he sorely missed the presence of his teammate and pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested to manage his workload. Siraj expressed his admiration for Bumrah, stating, “I miss Jassi (Bumrah) bhai because had he been there, it would have been special. I believe in Jassi bhai and myself.”
Siraj also reflected on his own performance, particularly a dropped catch on day four that almost cost India the game. He admitted to being tormented by the mistake, saying, “When I was going to bed… I was only thinking about ‘how could I drop it’.” The following morning, however, Siraj was filled with a new resolve. He described how he put a “Believe” emoji as his phone wallpaper to inspire himself. This newfound confidence paid off, as he returned to the field on Monday and delivered a game-changing bowling spell.
