India pacer Mohammed Siraj termed his mind-boggling performance in the England Test series as a “script written by God.” Siraj, the only bowler to play all five Tests in the series, picked up 23 wickets and finished as the highest wicket-taker.
His larger-than-life performance with the ball helped India level the series 2-2 against England, with wins at Edgbaston and The Oval.
The gruelling series came at a time when the Indian team, led by newly appointed captain Shubman Gill, was in a transition phase. With Jasprit Bumrah’s injury management a major concern for the team management, Siraj rose to the occasion and led the bowling attack, setting an incredible example.
He bowled a staggering 185.3 overs – 1,113 deliveries to be precise – finishing as the series’ leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets, helping India secure a 2-2 draw.
“It was a script written for me from somewhere up there,” said Siraj in an interview with The Indian Express. “From getting bowled at Lord’s (the Test that India lost) to reaching The Oval. Then I took a catch (of Harry Brook) and touched the boundary. Everything was written for me. It was a script from God.”
‘I can do this, win the game’
“When I woke up on that final morning, they needed 35 runs. I told myself that this game wouldn’t go beyond an hour and that I would win this match. The match was to start at 11 am and the team bus would leave by 9 am. I woke up at 6 am! I asked myself, ‘Why did I wake up so early today?’ I had woken up suddenly. After that, I wrote down, ‘I can do this, win the game.’ When the ball came out of my hand, the execution was exactly how I was thinking; it’s a good sign. God had written, ‘Ja hero ban ja tu, become a hero,'” said Siraj.
The 31-year-old pacer also revealed that he harbored the dream of becoming the highest wicket-taker in the series even before it began.
“When I landed in England, my aim was to become the highest wicket-taker there. That was my zone. During the whole series, I was mentally strong – I wanted to be 100 per cent fit, 100 per cent available, and play all five matches. My rhythm was also very good when I played the practice matches. When I found out that Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) was not going to play all the matches, I wanted to give my 100 per cent, since I was the second senior fast bowler in the team,” said Siraj.
“When we played the last series in Australia in 2024, I took 20 wickets. But Jassi bhai’s performance was extraordinary. I played well in the IPL. That gave me confidence. After the Champions Trophy, I had a good break. I realised what was wrong with my bowling. I practised and worked on my fitness,” he added.
In the Edgbaston Test, Siraj picked up seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul in the first innings. In the famous Oval Test, where India won by six runs, Siraj claimed four wickets in the first innings and a five-wicket haul in the second.