In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj has stepped up big time leading the Indian pace attack. The star pacer Mohammed Siraj clinched a 6-wicket haul on Day 3 and helped India maintain a lead of 180 going into the second innings. Mohammed Siraj had been very unlucky in the past few matches as he was bowling really well but the results were not going in his favor so to finally lead the bowling charts must have been a good feeling for the right-arm pacer.
Mohammed Siraj, who is leading India’s bowling attack in the second Test in Bumrah’s absence, opened his wicket account on Thursday (July 3) by dismissing Zak Crawley for 19 runs on the first ball of the eighth over and then in the morning session of the third day’s play picked up Joe Root (22) and Ben Stokes’s (0) wickets on back-to-back balls. Both Root and Stokes were caught behind by Rishabh Pant.
Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*) then added 303 runs for the sixth wicket, but after Akash Deep removed Brook in the third session to end the partnership, Mohammed Siraj dismissed Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir for ducks each to end England’s first innings at 407 in 89.3 overs. In the second innings when England are facing the mammoth 608 runs for victory, yet again Mohammed Siraj opened India’s wickets account by having Zak Crawley out for a duck.
Mohammed Siraj’s 6-fer at Edgbaston made records galore for the Indian spearhead in absence of Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj produced a sensational spell on Friday (July 4), becoming only the fourth Indian bowler to claim a five-wicket haul at Edgbaston. Mohammad Siraj’s fiery 6/70 against England in the ongoing second Test put him alongside legends Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, and Ishant Sharma as part of an elite club of Indian pacers to achieve the feat at this historic venue.
Mohammad Siraj’s six-for is also the best bowling performance by an Indian at Edgbaston since Chetan’s 6/58 in 1986 and the first by any visiting fast bowler to take six wickets in an innings at the iconic ground since 1993.
Mohammed Siraj stepped up in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah to deliver a stunning performance during the first innings of the Edgbaston Test against England. Coming into the game as a man with a plan and a point to prove, Siraj just stuck to his basics to rattle the English batting lineup.
Mohammed Siraj was India’s best bowler in the first innings of the ongoing second India-England Test. He bowled 19.3 overs and picked up six wickets for 70 runs. Siraj opened his wicket account on Thursday evening by getting Zak Crawley (19) caught out by Karun Nair in the slips and then removed Joe Root (22) and Ben Stokes (0) in the morning session of the third day’s play.
After Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*) frustrated India’s bowlers for more than 60 overs on Friday (July 4), Siraj returned in the final session with a bang and removed England’s last three batters—Brydon Carse (0), Josh Tongue (0), and Shoaib Bashir (0)—to bowl them out for 407 runs in the first innings.
Leading an inexperienced pace attack in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj ripped through England’s top order, reducing them to 84/5 before a stunning 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184*) brought the hosts back into the game. But Siraj returned with the second new ball to wipe out the tail, ending England’s innings at 407 in reply to India’s 587.
This was Mohammed Siraj’s third five-wicket haul in Tests, and came at a time when the visiting team was seeking brilliance from one of its bowlers. Akash Deep opened the door and Mohammed Siraj ran through the tail and ended with figures of 6 for 70, something he was proud of.
Mohammed Siraj’s six-wicket haul on Friday helped him equal Jasprit Bumrah’s elite bowling record for India. Siraj became only the second Indian after Bumrah to take a five-wicket haul for India in a Test match played in Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies. Mohammed Siraj, on the other hand, has one five-wicket haul to his name in England, South Africa, the West Indies, and Australia.
Mohammed Siraj’s best bowling figures in Tests
| OPPOSITION | FIGURES | VENUE | YEAR |
| South Africa | 6/15 | Cape Town | 2024 |
| England | 6/70 | Birmingham | 2025 |
| West Indies | 5/60 | Port of Spain | 2023 |
| Australia | 5/73 | Brisbane | 2021 |
| England | 4/32 | Lord’s | 2021 |
After Shubman Gill notched up another century and helped India set a towering 608-run target for England’s Bazballers, Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep made the new ball talk once again, rattling England’s top order. The hosts were left reeling at 72 for three in 16 overs at stumps on day four of the second Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Saturday.
Akash Deep removed the dangerous Ben Duckett and the experienced Joe Root, while Siraj dismissed Zak Crawley with a full outswinger that was caught at backward point. India now need seven more wickets on the final day, Sunday, to secure their first-ever Test win at Edgbaston. India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel praised the duo’s performance after their crucial breakthroughs kept the visitors in command.
Morne Morkel is in all praise of Mohammed Siraj for his briiliant performance vs England in 2nd Test
Mohammed Siraj did the hard toil for India when the Men in Blue were struggling to wrap up the middle order of England at Edgbaston on Day 3 of the 2nd Test. Scalping a six-fer in quick succession and breaking a long-standing partnership might not be a piece of cake for everyone and Indian bowling coach Morne Morkel just appreciated that toil of Siraj.
Speaking of Mohammed Siraj’s silent hard work, Morkel expressed his deep respect for the pacer and acknowledged his contribution to the game.
“Siraj is a guy that I’ve got a lot of respect for. He’s a guy that always will push his body to the limits. I think sometimes the guilty part of him is trying too hard so for us. It’s about managing that sort of aggression and managing that intensity because he really bowls with his heart on his sleeve. I think sometimes those sorts of things can give you that inconsistency,” Morkel said
Morne Morkel further expressed his admiration for Mohammed Siraj while acknowledging the fact that the Indian quick often goes unnoticed and is under-credited for his contributions.
“In a match that he’s now the leader of the attack, he got the wickets, but for me in terms of effort and energy and with a sore body, he’s always done and will put his hand up, and he wants to bowl that over. I don’t think sometimes we give him enough credit for that,”Morkel added.
Meanwhile, apart from Siraj, Akash Deep also scalped 4 important wickets of English batters in the first innings as Prasidh Krishna went wicketless with a wayward spell.
Looking ahead, India declared a massive lead of 600+ on day 4 for England to chase and with Ben Stokes and Co. currently standing at 72/3 at the end of Day 4, things are nearing a stalemate at Edgbaston. Mohammed Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh might have to step up and turn the tide with quick wickets if India wants to bring the match home.
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