Media365
Mohammed Siraj has carved his name alongside Indian greats, joining Kapil Dev and Vinoo Mankad as the only Indian bowlers to feature in all five Tests of an overseas series on three separate occasions and take 10 or more wickets each time. The milestone came as Siraj was named in the playing XI for the fifth and final Test against England at The Oval. In a series where India trail 2-1 and need a win to draw level, the 31-year-old pacer has been a standout performer, consistently delivering crucial breakthroughs. Siraj has taken 14 wickets so far in the series, with 2, 7, 4 and 1 scalps in the four Tests leading up to the decider. With the pitch at The Oval expected to favour seamers, the onus will once again be on Siraj to lead the charge – this time alongside Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep, with Jasprit Bumrah not in the lineup.
His reliability across conditions has made him a crucial name in India’s red-ball setup, trusted to spearhead or support the attack regardless of conditions or team members. Adding to the significance of the day, captain Shubman Gill earlier broke a 47-year-old record for the most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series. Gill went past Sunil Gavaskar’s mark of 732 runs vs West Indies in 1978. At lunch, he reached 15 in India’s first innings, taking his series tally to 737* and counting.
Poll
Do you think Mohammed Siraj will be the key player in the final Test against England?
With high stakes riding on the result – an England win sealing the series and an Indian victory forcing a 2-2 draw – Siraj’s spell could prove pivotal in deciding the series outcome.
