Page 46 - The Indian EYE 081525

STUMP VISION AUGUST 08, 2025 | The Indian Eye 46

Siraj’s Test Series in 4 Acts : Bowled,

Dropped, Smashed and Redeemed

Siraj’s evolution as a bowler has been dramatic. Once a hit-the-deck, wobble-seam

specialist, he now swings it both ways and nails yorkers under pressure

plays it like it’s war for his nation.
And then came redemption:
pure, poetic, perfect , at The Oval.
With India defending 374 and En-
gland needing just 35 on the final day,
Siraj woke up early and set Cristiano
Ronaldo’s “Believe” as his phone
wallpaper. Talk about manifesting!
He took five in the second innings,
including the final wicket , a searing
yorker that shattered Gus Atkinson’s
stumps. Earlier, he had dropped
Harry Brook and stepped over the
rope, turning a catch into six , but Sir-
ARCHAN MEHTA
aj doesn’t run from mistakes, he runs
through them. That final spell was
ohammed Siraj’s spells more than cricket; it was penance.
come with swing, seam,
Mand a side order of adren- His roar after the last wicket wasn’t
just a celebration , it was closure. Fit-
aline. From Hyderabad’s dusty lanes tingly, he finished with his signature
to the hallowed turf of Lord’s, his rise “Siu” as India secured their narrow-
is pure cricket folklore. Born to an est-ever Test win , by just six runs.
auto-driver father and a homemaker Siraj’s evolution as a bowler has
mother, Siraj had no formal coaching been just as dramatic. Once a hit-the-
or equipment , just raw passion and deck, wobble-seam specialist, he now
a tennis ball. His breakthrough came swings it both ways and nails yorkers
in the 2015–16 Ranji season, earning under pressure. In the England se-
him an IPL contract in 2017. But it ries, his outswing was so threatening
was his fiery Test debut in 2020 that that Shubman Gill hesitated to take
truly marked his arrival. Backed early the second new ball. He dismissed
by Virat Kohli, who even paid a sur- Atkinson with a yorker and Joe Root
prise visit to his home, Siraj’s journey with a wobble-seam LBW, proof that
touched hearts, a boy who once only he’s no longer just fire, but also fi-
dreamt of a proper roof over his fam- nesse. And ironically, he shines the
ily’s head was now wearing the India brightest when Jasprit Bumrah is ab-
cap. sent. Two of India’s wins in the series
Siraj is no longer just the emo- Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of England’s last wicket Gus Atkinson during day 5 of
tional debutant who cried during their 5th test match, at Kennington Oval stadium (@sachin_rt X/ANI Photo)Archan Mehta is a came without their pace spearhead,
and Siraj stepped up as the leader of
the national anthem in Australia , the bowling pack. Though he mod-
he’s become India’s “lucky charm” writer dedicated to telling compelling stories about athletes, teams, and the world of cricket estly says he’s “not quite Jassi bhai,”
overseas. With historic Test wins the numbers tell a different tale.
in Gabba, Centurion, Cape Town, bowling made him the series high- the advantage. Dejected, he found As Shubman Gill summed it up
Perth, and Edgbaston, he’s the only est wicket-taker with 23 wickets. En- strength in Ravindra Jadeja’s words: perfectly , “Captaincy becomes easy
Indian to feature in all five. His 6/15 gland players dubbed him “Mr. An- “Remember your father” That lit a when you have a bowler like Siraj
at Cape Town and relentless effort at gry,” but as Joe Root put it, the anger fire. Siraj kept pushing, especially in who just grabs the ball and gives it
Edgbaston showed he’s more than is fake, the fire is real. the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, and everything.” He may not be a knight
just effort , he’s evolution in motion. In a series packed with sto- made sure India remained in the in shining armor, but hand him a
Yet, he’s retained his street-fighter rylines, Siraj’s arc was easily the most fight. Sometimes, his passion boiled cricket ball, and he’ll swing dragons
instincts. His self-belief borders on cinematic. The Lord’s Test was his over , like when he accidentally out of castles!
positive arrogance, and during the lowest point , not because of the runs bumped into Ben Duckett and got
2025 England series, he sent down a he conceded, but because he dragged fined, a move Nasser Hussain called Archan Mehta is a writer dedicated to
staggering 185 overs across five Tests, the ball onto his own stumps in a harsh. But that’s Siraj: he doesn’t telling compelling stories about ath-
no fuss, just pure heart. His tireless critical moment, handing England play Test cricket for stats or PR, he letes, teams, and the world of cricket

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