WATCH: Shubman Gill's clever strategy helps Mohammed Siraj send Zak Crawley packing
Mohammed Siraj produced a spectacular slower yorker to bowl Zak Crawley out on what turned out to be the last ball of Day 3 of the 5th Test between India and England at the Kennington Oval.
The English opener was clearly shocked and it certainly looked like Crawley was set up to play a short ball next. The brilliance was actually the mind of India's captain, Shubman Gill, who set Crawley up to make it look like the bouncer coming next. Instead, Siraj delivered a brilliantly executed yorker and left Crawley with no response. The timely wicket gave India confidence in their attempts to defend 374 runs at the Test match.
Crawley didn't want another over; Siraj made sure of it 🤷♂️ #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/uWi1v0CNYA
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 2, 2025
With England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett putting together a 50-run partnership, India captain Shubman Gill knew that they needed to break the partnership before stumps on Day 4. That's where they decided to make a plan with Mohammed Siraj.
Zak Crawley tried to repeat his Lord's tactics
Crawley tried his best to waste time just like the Lord's Test but Gill ignored him this time. The Indian captain calmly moved the square leg fielder, indicating that a bouncer from Siraj was coming. Siraj had been dynamic and expressive the entire match, so this was nothing new.
Siraj, however, left Crawley stunned by delivering a slower yorker, which the England opener had zero answer for. The accuracy to that ball earned Siraj and India a prized piece of batting, and Crawley had only to head back to the dressing room during the last over of the day.
The series is still alive, and India need to take 9 wickets to ensure they finish with the respectable 2-2 draw in the 5-match series.
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