Mohammed Siraj is deservingly getting all the appreciation and love from experts and fans for his terrific showing in the ongoing five-match Test series against England. The pacer was the only one of the two fast bowlers across both teams to play all five Tests. He bowled a colossal 185.3 overs, taking 23 wickets. Even playing in his last Test of the series, Siraj still managed to clock speeds over 140.
Fittingly, the pacer took the last wicket, and did a Sui celebration to spark a dramatic scenes in the dressing room as well as in Oval Stands. India players finished the series 2-2 and is currently the toast of the entire nation. Life also came full circle to the veteran player as he came agonizingly close to winning the Lord's Test, but was unfortunately out, which gave England a win.
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However, in the final Test, Mohammed Siraj just about had enough gas left to give India a hard-earned victory.
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"To be honest, the body is fine right now, because it's almost 187 (185.3) hours in this series, but you play for the country, you give everything. I don't think too much. You bowl your sixth over, you bowl your ninth over, I don't care. I believe in myself, you bowl every ball for the country, not for myself, play for the country, you give it everything," Siraj said in the post-match press conference after finishing with 5 for 104 in England's second innings.
Jadeja Bhai inspired to keep fighting for my late father: Siraj
One of the iconic images in the Test series is perhaps Siraj getting out when India needed 23 runs to win the Lord's Test. At that point, the pacer played 30 balls and scored four runs. At the other end was Ravindra Jadeja, who kept India's fight on. The pacer remembered the all-rounder's words to keep fighting for his late father.
"Even today, he was speaking about the fact that when he was batting in the Lord's Test, Jadeja told him, Think of your dad. You know, these kinds of things will push you in this Test.
"These are emotional moments. Through this Test series, that side of certain players has also unfolded. Joe Root thanks Graham Thorpe. Siraj thinking about his dad and wants to push. And Jadeja is reminding him of that. Small moments which I feel are the beauty of Test cricket."
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Siraj was named player of the match for his match haul of nine wickets at The Oval Test. This was his second fifer in the Test series. He also bowled most balls -1113.
