- August 5, 2025
On Day 5 of the fifth Test between India and England at The Oval, Mohammed Siraj’s story was one of grit, mastery, and raw ambition. Former India opener Aakash Chopra summed it up best when he said, “If I showed you just the seam, you’d think it’s Jimmy Anderson or Mohammad Shami.” That’s no small compliment. In a high-pressure decider, Siraj delivered a spell that not only sealed the win but also reminded everyone why he belongs in the elite club of modern fast bowlers.
The Seam That Spoke Volumes
Let’s talk about the seam, shall we? To the casual viewer, it might look like a basic part of the ball. But for bowlers, it’s the steering wheel. And in Siraj’s case at The Oval, his seam position was a chef’s kiss. Aakash Chopra pointed out that Siraj’s deliveries featured an exceptionally straight and upright seam, so much so that, if you didn’t know better, you might think the ball was bowled by top swing specialists like Anderson or Shami.
How is that so dangerous? It decides swing, normal, and reverse swing. Siraj used it like a prepared sculpture. He formed the ball into a shape to go in and out. He was using the air, with the seam upright, to generate minor, destructive movement. The deliveries were going out ‘like a whisper’, and the ones coming in ‘like a spear’ – that is a man who has been around the block. It wasn’t luck, it was engineering.
Hard Work, Heart, and Redemption
Siraj dropped Harry Brook earlier in the series—an error that shifted an entire game. He was also the last man dismissed during that painful 22-run loss at Lord’s. But what defines great players isn’t a spotless record—it’s their ability to bounce back. And bounce back he did.
He ripped through England’s lower order like a man possessed. Siraj’s 5/104 wasn’t just another five-for in the books. It was a statement—a redemption arc that concluded with him at the center of India’s six-run triumph.
This was more than pace and conditions. It was about grit. The dude was a machine. His fitness, body language, and intention made it clear, “I ain’t finished yet.” That’s the reason Aakash Chopra referred to him as the hard-working hero — not the biggest name in the game like a Bumrah, but he deserved the spotlight.
Overseas Beast Mode: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s hit pause and look at what Siraj has been doing since his debut. Aakash Chopra noted that since Siraj’s debut, no fast bowler worldwide has taken more wickets in overseas Test wins than him. That’s staggering.
He took five wickets at the MCG in 2020, six at the Gabba in 2021, eight at Lord’s the same year, seven at Centurion, five in Perth, seven in Birmingham, and, most recently, nine at The Oval. These aren’t friendly subcontinental conditions. These are hostile, fast, bouncy wickets where bowlers either swim or sink. And Siraj? He’s built a raft and cruised.
While others have flashed brilliance, Siraj has offered consistency. He shows up, does the dirty work, and walks off with match-defining spells that often don’t get the limelight they deserve. It’s time we changed that narrative.
Mohammed Siraj is no longer the talented young man in the background of bigger names. He’s the player you want when the game is on the line on a difficult wicket abroad. His performance at The Oval was not only about the wickets taken; it was about guts, growth, and execution.
