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’s 6-fer at Edgbaston made records galore for the Indian spearhead in absence of Jasprit Bumrah
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 |
Mohammed Siraj has picked up a six-wicket haul for India in Tests in England and South Africa. He is the first Indian bowler to achieve this feat.Mohammed Siraj was lauded by the Indian cricket fraternity for his awe-inspiring spell on Day 3 of the Birmingham Test and Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif came in all praise for the Indian pacer.
Mohammad Kaif is in all praise of Mohammed Siraj after his 6-fer taking an U turn from his previous remarks
Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif made a sharp U-turn as Mohammed Siraj bagged a six-wicket haul on Day 3 of the second Test against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham on Friday, July 4. Mohammed Siraj wrapped up England’s tail, bagging three wickets quickly as the hosts England were bundled out for 407 runs in the first innings. This was also Mohammed Siraj’s first fifer in England.
Mohammed Kaif lauded Mohammed Siraj for his skills and big heart. The cricketer-turned-commentator wrote on X :
“Mohammed Siraj has great skills and big heart, keeps running in hard for india.”
Notably, Mohammad Kaif launched a scathing attack against Siraj following his modest performance in the series opener at Headingly. The 44-year-old urged the pacer to bowl with his mind rather than his heart. The remarks came as Siraj managed to bag just two wickets in the first Test. He recently said on his Youtube channel :
“People say Mohammed Siraj tried very hard, bowls with his heart. Sir, don’t bowl with your heart, bowl with your mind and with line and length where we can get wickets.”
Its noteworthy that Mohammed Siraj provided early breakthroughs for India on Day 3 by dismissing Joe Root and skipper Ben Stokes of consecutive deliveries before finishing with figures of 6/70. While the game is far from done and so is the series, Mohammed Siraj’s performance does come at the right time for the Indian team who will be aiming to secure the win and make it 1-1.
Meanwhile, courtesy of Mohammed Siraj’s sensational performance, India bundled out England for 407 in their first innings and took a massive 180-run lead. The Shubman Gill-led side further finished the day on 64/1 with KL Rahul (28*) and Karun Nair (7*) at the crease, leading by 244 runs.India will be eager to take their lead past 400 on Day 4 and post a daunting target for England to chase in the fourth innings.
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