On a gloomy day at The Oval during the 5th Test between England and India, the visitors found themselves under pressure. With Jasprit Bumrah absent, India’s bowling attack initially lacked bite, allowing Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley to dominate the opening session. The English openers were scoring freely, and India appeared rudderless without their spearhead.
But then, Mohammed Siraj, India’s dependable workhorse throughout the series, rose to the occasion.
With controlled aggression, sharp swing, and relentless energy, Siraj broke through England’s top order, shifting the momentum just when India needed it most. His discipline and knack for picking crucial wickets underlined why he’s become such a key figure in India’s Test setup. Siraj dismissed Duckett with a peach that nipped back in, and then quickly followed up with Crawley’s wicket, halting England’s early charge.
“I only believe in Jassi bhai because he is a game-changer.” Remember that line from last year’s T20 World Cup final in Barbados? It captured a truth many Indian fans have long believed: Mohammed Siraj thrives when Jasprit Bumrah is around. Since making his debut in 2017, the fiery fast bowler from Hyderabad has been the Robin.A fan quipped: “Siraj, when Jassi bhai is not there, only believes in Siraj bhai.”
By lunch on Day 2, it seemed India had made a tactical blunder by not fielding Bumrah for the series-deciding fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. After being bowled out for a below-par 224, India’s pace trio of Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna were being carted around the park by England, who racked up 109 runs in just 16 overs.
The pitch was green. The sky was grey. These were the most bowler-friendly conditions of the series. Yet, India’s pacers were wayward.
Siraj, in particular, bowled just four overs in the first session and leaked 31 runs. Akash Deep got the wicket of Ben Duckett, but only after conceding 46 in his seven overs. Prasidh gave away 31 in five.
The lines were poor. The lengths, worse. Siraj was drifting too wide, rarely making the batters play, forgetting the golden rule: bring the stumps into play.
It looked like India had been out-thought and out-picked. No Bumrah. No extra seamer. England were Bazballing — and India were on the rop
Removed from the attack after the seventh over, Siraj didn’t get the ball again until the 25th. By then, England were 142 for 2, with Zak Crawley back in the pavilion thanks to a good one from Prasidh.
But this time, Siraj had zoned in.
He returned with renewed purpose and immediate reward. In his very first over of the second spell, he got one to jag back savagely. Ollie Pope, England’s stand-in captain, was beaten all ends up by the sharp seam movement and late pace. Pinned in front. Uproar in the stands. India were back.
He bowled an eight-over spell full of venom, regularly clocking over 140 kph. It was a monumental effort — especially for the only Indian bowler to have played all five Tests in the series. And then came the prize: the wicket of Joe Root, trapped LBW by a delivery that nipped in after pitching.
Soon after, he got the wicket of Jacob Bethell, Ben Stokes’s replacement, with a ripping inswinging yorker.
Siraj’s second session figures? Eight overs, 35 runs, three wickets.
Those three strikes wrested momentum back for India. Add two more from Prasidh, and by the tea break, the tone had shifted. What looked like a potential 150-run deficit was held to just 23.
From 109 for 1, England collapsed to 247 all out.
The final wicket? Appropriately, it was Siraj again, knocking over Harry Brook for a gritty fifty to end the innings.
With Bumrah: 64 wickets in 19 matches at 33.90
Without Bumrah: 35 wickets in 8 matches at 24.08
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