“I only believe in Jassi Bhai because he’s a game changer.” Do you remember this line from last year’s World Cup final in Barbados? This captured the truth that many Indian fans believed for a long time: Mohammed Siraj thrives when Jasprit Bumrah is around. Since his debut in 2017, the fire -fiery pitch of Hyderabad has been Robin Bumhrah Batman.
But when Bumhrah isn’t nearby?
The fan attracted: “Siraj, when there is no Jassi Bhai, only believes in Siraj Bhai.”
Apt, right?
And again and again, this belief turned into something special.
On a gloomy Friday in the London oval, Siraj showed – again – that he was not just a helper. In the absence of an attack at the head of an Indian attack, a 31 -year -old man lifted on this occasion and told the cricket world: “I got it.”
England in the morning, Indian horror
Lunch 2. On the day, India seemed to have done a tactical mistake by not publishing Bumhrah for the fifth test series Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. After they were flying to 224, the Indian pace of the Trio Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna were coated around the England Park, which collected 109 runs for only 16 overs.
| Oval test, main day – Scorecard |
The playground was green. The sky was gray. These were the most bowler conditions of the series. Yet the Indian stimulators were noble.
In particular, only four exceeded in the first session and escaped 31 runs. Akash Deep got a goal Ben Ducketta, but only after he admitted 46 in his seven overs. Prasidh distributed 31 in five.
The lines were poor. Lengths, worse. Siraj was driving too wide, rarely forced to play the dough and forgot the golden rule: bring stumps into the game.
It seemed that India was thought out and chosen. No BUMRAH. No other sailor. England was basbolling – and India was on ropes.
Then Siraj Bhai believed in Siraj Bhai
Siraj removed from the attack after seventh place, did not get the ball again until 25. Until then, England was 142 for 2, with Zak Crawley back in the pavilion thanks to the good of Prasidh.
This time, however, Siraj zone.
Returned with the renewed purpose and immediate reward. In the first first spell, one got into a wild back. Ollie Pope, an English captain, was defeated everything ends with a sharp movement of the seam and late pace. Attached to the front. A stir on the stands. India was back.
And Siraj? He wasn’t done.
The eight -over magic full of poison bowed, regularly reduced over 140 km / h. It was a monumental effort – especially for the only Indian pitch that played all five tests in the series. And then came the price: goal Joe Root, imprisoned LBW van, which after pitching threw itself.
Soon after, he got the goal of Jacob Bethello, the replacement of Ben Stokes, with the jerky Inswinging Yorker.
The position of the second session of Siri? Eight overs, 35 runs, three goals.
These three strikes had fun for India. Add two more of Prasidh and after a break of the tea, the tone has moved. What looked like a potential 150-running deficit was held only at 23.
From 109 for 1, England collapsed to 247.
Last goal? It was appropriately again Siraj again, knocked Harry Brook on a brave fifty to end the shifts.
It wasn’t one -time. Just a few weeks ago in Birmingham, Siraj took seven goals-including six for -To help India to their only victory in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. Bumrah was rested. Siraj got out and joined again with Akash Deep to make India’s famous victory.
And this belief in great moments? It goes to your first series. Mind Gabba, 2021. Only its third test. Siraj raised five against Mighty Aussies and scripted one of the largest Indian overseas victories.
The numbers do not lie
Overall
- With BUMURAH: 74 goals in 25 matches at 35.00
- Without Bumrah: 44 goals in 16 matches at 25.59
Overseas/neutral places
- With Bumurah: 64 goals in 19 matches at 33.90
- Without Bumrah: 35 goals in 8 matches at 24.08
From Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25
- With BUMURAH: 27 goals in 8 tests on 38.96
- Without Bumrah: 11 goals in 2 tests at 19.36
Three of Siraj’s five goals in the tests came when Bumrah didn’t play. This is not a coincidence.
Heart and craft
It wasn’t a smooth ride. Siraj, now with Gujarat Titans, admitted that he was physically and mentally exhausted after a difficult tour of Australia. At the beginning of this year he was not selected for the campaign for the Champions-Resolution trophy, which gave him a much needed rest.
But in England he returned roaring. Over eight shifts in Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Siraj bowed to 155.2 oversized by an Indian pitch.
Nevertheless, there was around 140 clicks in the final test of the series, and he was charging it with the same hunger.
A lot of the loan went to Siraj’s “big heart” and deserved it. But it wasn’t just the courage. It was also a craft.
In the second session on Friday, Siraj modified his lengths, chased his lines and maximized the gentle movement of the old Duke ball. He used wobble seam as a variation. He built a dough with a fine swingers before he released a sharp rest.
Cheteshwar Pujara, who watched the Siraj evolves from Brisbane to the oval, explained the best way:
Former Pacer Varun Aaron added: “He should believe more in the delivery of seams. Since he discovered his outswing, he goes to him too early. It has a little floating when trying to turn it.
No, Siraj does not have to blow out the opposition with a new ball in the first meeting of the series. He’s not a magician who is Bumrah with a new ball. But give him a battle, give him scrap and turns into something else.
Mohammed Siraj again and again showed that faith in himself is enough. Enough to turn the session. Enough to move the momentum in the test. Sometimes it’s all the needs of India.
– ends
Published:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
August 2, 2025
