Siraj-inspired India dash England hopes, share series
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Hindustan Times
29 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
'We failed to recognise Mohammed Siraj': R Ashwin urges Gambhir, Shubman Gill to look after potential No.1 bowler
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin urged Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill to look after Mohammed Siraj after the pacer led the visitors to a thrilling six-run win against England in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. The 31-year-old returned with nine wickets in the series decider, including a five-wicket haul in the second innings, to help Shubman Gill's side level the five-match series. Mohammed Siraj took nine wickets in the Oval Test against England. (PTI) Ashwin, who retired from international cricket in December 2024, said Siraj has not been recognised for his efforts in the past, and the time has come for the pacer to get all the acknowledgement he deserves. Siraj stepped up in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah as he led the pace attack really well, finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the series with 23 scalps. 'We failed to recognise Mohammed Siraj. The time has come to recognise him now. He once again put his hand up; he has given a compelling reason. Just look at his celebration, it seems as if he is saying, 'This is not the trailer. This is the main picture itself'. He is saying, 'Please consider me as a match winner'. ' He is reminding us what a champion bowler he is. His bowling action, his technique and good work ethic are allowing him to play all five Tests in a series,' said Ashwin on his YouTube channel. Also Read: 'When Siraj took the last wicket, as much as I was disappointed…': England coach McCullum hails India in 'best series' 'He is also growing old. It is important for the team management to rest him as well from inconsequential matches. He could be your No.1 Test bowler; he could be your go-to Test bowler. We have to rebuild the bowling attack. Akash Deep is there, Prasidh Krishna is there, Arshdeep Singh is there. Around Mohammed Siraj and his experience, we have to build it,' he added. Siraj's workload in the series The right-arm speedster delivered 187 overs in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, bowling the most overs by any bowler in the recently concluded series. Siraj witnessed a plethora of emotions in the entire series against England. He saw pure agony after India suffered a defeat in the Lord's Test. He played a forward defence off the bowling of Shoaib Bashir, but the ball rolled back onto the stumps, leading to the hosts' victory. The pacer then failed to take Harry Brook's catch on Day 4 of the Oval Test, and the batter made India pay by smashing 111 runs. However, Siraj stepped up when India needed it the most as he took the final three wickets out of the remaining four on Day 5. 'Let's celebrate Siraj. He is the leading wicket-taker in the series. Dinesh Karthik interviewed him on Day 4, and then he interviewed him after the match had ended. He was his translator as well. But in the interview he had with Siraj, he was just asking questions in English. He knows all about him. In the T20 World Cup, Siraj said 'We believe in Jassi Bhai'. But today, not Jassi Bhai, Miyan Bhai was the real instrument to level this series. Without Jasprit Bumrah, we have drawn this series. Siraj has led the attack,' said Ashwin. 'Cricketing gods have been fair to Siraj. Despite getting it wrong at times, he never stops running in. It is very easy for someone playing all the Tests to say, 'I am tired. I am having pain'. He is always there on the field; he never goes outside. Cricketing gods recognise these things. Very well deserved. It is very hard to find players like Siraj. Players like Siraj don't come easily, especially from India. He is the first of his kind. Mohammed Siraj, for his pure attitude, is a once-in-a-generation cricketer,' he added.
NDTV
29 minutes ago
- NDTV
Harbhajan Singh's Blunt Reality Check To England Great Over 3-1 Series Prediction At Start
History unfolded on Monday as Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna 's fiery bowling spells helped India register a narrow six-run win over England in the fifth Test. The Oval Test, which was looking like a perfect ending for England, turned upside down as Shubman Gill and co brilliantly dominated the proceedings and clinch a thrilling win. With this win, the five-match series ended in a 2-2 draw and Shubman Gill passed his first stint as the Test captain with flying colours. Before the series began, many former cricketers and fans had underestimated the potential of the Gill-led side as it marked the beginning of a new era in Indian Test cricket. Former England captain Michael Vaughan had even predicted that England would be winning the series 3-0 or 3-1. After India's registered a dominating performance to end the series in 2-2 draw, former spinner Harbhajan Singh took a dig at Vaughan, calling the Indian players "warriors". "I feel there is a big win hidden for India here. Yes, the scoreline shows 2-2. Michael Vaughan and many others predicted that it would be 3-1 or 3-0. I would tell them to look towards their side a bit and where England cricket stands. Our warriors have shown the level of Indian cricket," Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel. "Unbelievable Test match and the way India have played the series, they deserve praise. When the team went to England, many people said it was young and there were no seniors. But see how the young team created history," he added. The odds were stacked against India as they stepped inside The Oval to scalp four wickets with barely 35 runs to defend in the fifth Test while defending the daunting 373-run target. Under London's clouded sky, the two successive boundaries on the opening deliveries further deteriorated India's chances. But Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna upped the ante and bowled in tandem to wreak havoc and tilt the scales in India's favour. Siraj unleashed his fury and struck the decisive blow by nailing the yorker to rattle Gus Atkinson 's stumps to seal a slender six-run triumph for India.
India.com
29 minutes ago
- India.com
Do You Think Jawans Complain? – Sunil Gavaskar Slams Gautam Gambhir's Workload Policy After Moahmmed Siraj's Heroics at The Oval
In a breathtaking climax to the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025, India edged past England by six runs at The Oval, leveling the five-match Test series 2-2. The star of the show was none other than Mohammed Siraj, whose relentless bowling display over the series culminated in a five-wicket haul that rattled England on the final day. However, while India celebrated a memorable comeback, legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar reignited the ongoing debate around workload management in Indian cricket, launching a fiery critique at head coach Gautam Gambhir. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was rested ahead of the fifth Test, with Gambhir citing workload management as the rationale. But Siraj, who toiled through all five Tests, bowling a staggering 185.3 overs and claiming 23 wickets, became the embodiment of endurance. His consistency and fiery spells didn't just seal India's series-saving win — they also drew sharp praise from Gavaskar, who used the moment to attack the narrative surrounding modern player rotation. 'Siraj bowled his heart out and debunked forever this business of workload,' Gavaskar told India Today. 'I hope the word 'workload' goes out of the Indian cricket dictionary.' 'Do You Think Jawans Complain?' – Gavaskar's Explosive Analogy Gavaskar, known for his blunt assessments, didn't hold back when targeting what he sees as excessive caution in player management. Drawing a passionate comparison with soldiers serving at the borders, the former India skipper said: 'You are playing for your country. You've got to forget the aches and pains. Do you think jawans complain about the cold or discomfort? They give their lives. Players should give their very best.' His comments were a direct shot at what he believes is a softening of mindset, driven by analytics and conditioning staff in modern cricket. While Gavaskar acknowledged that injuries are real — clarifying that Bumrah's absence was due to a previous back injury — he insisted that the broader concept of preventative resting must be challenged. Rishabh Pant: A Case of Courage Under Fire Citing another example of courage, Gavaskar lauded Rishabh Pant, who, despite a fractured foot, batted in the fourth Test and scored a vital fifty. The knock helped India salvage a draw and set up the series decider. 'Pant batted with a fracture. That is the spirit we want to see. Not excuses,' Gavaskar remarked. Mohammed Siraj: The Warrior India Needed Siraj's stats alone tell a powerful story — 185.3 overs bowled, 23 wickets taken, two five-fors, and unmatched intensity. His spell in the second innings at The Oval was the defining moment of the match as he rattled England's middle-order to defend 374 runs. With England needing 61 runs and India three wickets away from a win on the final morning, it was Siraj's fiery spell that turned the game. His trademark celebration — kissing the badge and pointing to the sky — captured the emotion of a warrior who had given everything. 'I believed in myself, and the team believed in me,' said Siraj, whose phone wallpaper reportedly reads: "Believe." Gavaskar Clarifies: Bumrah's Case Different While Gavaskar's criticism stirred headlines, he was careful to draw a distinction between injury and rest. 'Bumrah's situation was due to a serious injury. When fit, he gave everything and took two five-wicket hauls. Let's not forget his class,' he noted. The BCCI had restricted Bumrah to three Tests during the series following his recovery from a back injury earlier this year.
