Mohammed Siraj Proves Dale Steyn Right, Bags Famous Fifer to Win Iconic Oval Test

Mohammed Siraj's display helped him surpass Kapil Dev on the list of most wickets by an Indian bowler in England, taking 46 wickets in 11 matches.

Mohammed Siraj Proves Dale Steyn Right, Bags Famous Fifer to Win Iconic Oval Test

Mohammed Siraj lived up to Dale Steyn's prediction, that he would take a fifer at the Oval. (via Cricinfo/X)

🔍 Explore this post with:

ChatGPTPerplexityGrok AIGoogle AI

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered a scintillating bowling display in the final Test against England at The Oval, living up to Dale Steyn‘s prediction. Steyn had confidently backed Siraj to take a five-wicket haul, and the latter doing exactly that in the final innings.

Mohammed Siraj led the Indian bowling attack from the front in the five-match Test tour to England, playing without rest. The 31-year-old was the only Indian pacer to do so, with others being rested for at least one match to manage their workloads. Siraj finished as the highest wicket-taker in the Test series, having picked up 23 wickets at an average of 32.43, after having bowled over 185 overs in the series. 

His performance in the final match was particularly outstanding, as he once again showed his ability to perform on the biggest stage, even in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. Siraj rose to the occasion in both the first and second innings, finishing with match figures of 9/190. In the first innings, he took the key wickets of stand-in captain Ollie Pope, the in-form Joe Root, Harry Brook, and all-rounder Jacob Bethell.

With India having set a challenging final innings target of 374 runs, Siraj, despite the initial struggles on Day 4, after Root and Brook had taken the home side seemingly close to victory, guided the visitors in the fightback. Siraj’s final innings heroics, coupled with an impressive display from Prasidh Krishna, who also scalped a four-wicket haul in each of the innings, took India past the line with a narrow six-run victory. 

Siraj was on fire on the final day at the Oval, with England needing just 35 runs to win. He turned the game on its head by removing Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton in quick succession. He then sealed the match by dismissing Gus Atkinson with a perfect yorker, finishing with brilliant figures of 5/104. This was his second five-wicket haul of the series.

Picking up the POTM award for his display, Siraj also delivered what South African bowling legend Dale Steyn had straightforwardly predicted him to do. Ahead of the fifth Test, Steyn had backed Siraj to take a fifer, in a social media post. Siraj’s decisive display not only delighted Steyn but also his team, as he helped the Men in Blue level the series 2-2 from what seemed like an unwinnable position.

Furthermore, Mohammed Siraj also equaled Bumrah’s record for the most wickets by an Indian bowler in a Test series in England, with 23 wickets. It remains to be seen when Siraj will next play for India, as he is now eyeing a return to India’s white-ball squad for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Mohammed Siraj Reveals Heartwarming Advice from Ravindra Jadeja While Batting at Lord’s 

Siraj, post the end of the Test series, revealed a heartwarming piece of advice he received from Ravindra Jadeja before the third Test defeat. The Hyderabadi bowler, who was the last batter to be dismissed in India’s narrow 22-run loss at Lord’s, noted that Jadeja had instilled confidence in him.

Mohammed Siraj advice Ravindra Jadeja
Mohammed Siraj revealed a heart-warming advice that he received from Ravindra Jadeja, while batting at Lord’s. (via ANI)

Siraj recounted that Jadeja told him to remember his father and deliver a match-winning performance at Lord’s as a gift for him. Jadeja also advised Siraj to trust in his batting abilities, which could have helped India triumph in the third Test. Siraj tried his best until the very end, before being heart-creakingly dismissed by Shoaib Bashir as the ball rolled into his leg stumps despite a back-foot defense.

Lord’s was heartbreaking, Jaddu [Ravindra Jadeja] bhai told me to back my defence and remember my dad and do it for him.

Mohammed Siraj on the Lord’s debacle (H/T: News 18)

The pacer admitted that his inability to get India over the line in that third Test was what motivated him to perform well at the Oval. This determination ultimately paid off, as Siraj’s five-wicket haul in the final innings helped India secure a historic six-run victory.