A few weeks ago, Mohammed Siraj walked off the field in tears. In the third test at Lord’s, Siraj was bowled by Shoaib Bashir in unlucky fashion. India fell short of the target by just 22 runs. Ravindra Jadeja stood unbeaten on 61, but Siraj couldn’t stay with him till the end. It hurt him badly, and that pain stayed.
Then, in the fifth and final test at The Oval, Mohammed Siraj faced another heartbreaking moment. Stationed near the boundary rope, he settled under a catch that looked simple in the first place. He caught it cleanly, but his foot brushed the boundary cushion. The third umpire ruled it not out. England batter Harry Brook, who was given a lifeline, went on to score a century. Another blow.
But Siraj is not someone who gives up. The fighter in him was waiting for a moment to close the series on his terms. And on August 4, that moment came, with the sound of the stumps rattling. This time, Siraj was the one crashing the timber.
Mohammed Siraj shatters Gus Atkinson’s off-stump as India beat England by 6 runs to level the series
England’s Gus Atkinson missed a full and fast delivery, and Siraj finished with five wickets. It was a performance full of character. With that, India won the Test, and the series was drawn 2-2, a fitting result after a thrilling contest.
Mohammad Siraj had Cristiano Ronaldo level aura today ✨️pic.twitter.com/RyDfVMSseN
— Abhishek (@vicharabhio) August 4, 2025
Asked about his emotions after the final wicket, especially after what he had gone through in the previous tests, Siraj stayed true to his honest and funny self.
“Actually DK bhai (Dinesh Karthik) started asking questions in English, so at that point all emotions went away,” he said in his unfiltered Hyderabadi Hindi, drawing laughter from everyone.
Behind the smiles, though, was a story of hard work, heartbreak, and deep motivation. While he was bowling his heart out with an 80-over old Dukes ball, it was Ravindra Jadeja who gave him some powerful words.
“Jaddu bhai ne bola, ki apne father ke barein mein soch aur kitna takleef unhone uthaya aur tujhe unke liye yeh karna (win) hai. (Think about your late father and amount of hardships he faced. Do it for him),” Siraj said, remembering the man who inspired him the most.
Over the course of the series, Siraj bowled 185.3 overs and took 23 wickets. He played key roles in matches where India didn’t have Jasprit Bumrah, yet stood tall as a leader in the bowling unit.
“Body is fine…I don’t care if it’s the sixth over or the ninth over for me. I don’t bowl for myself, it is for my country,” Siraj said, underlining the pride he carries every time he wears the India jersey.
Mohammed Siraj opens up on how Cristiano Ronaldo factor powered him to pull off match-winning heroics at The Oval
He also shared a personal moment from the morning of the final day. “I woke up in the morning and checked Google on my phone and took out a ‘Believe’ emoji wallpaper and told myself that I will do it for the country.” That wallpaper featured none other than Cristiano Ronaldo and one word—‘Believe’. For Siraj, that was enough. That was his fuel.
When your lockscreen is your motivation. 💪
Siraj showing the world what belief looks like — inspired by the GOAT himself! 🐐🔥#MohammedSiraj #CristianoRonaldo pic.twitter.com/QG5lTia8aj
— shan (@shanwritehere) August 5, 2025
He showed the wallpaper to the media after the match, a simple reminder that belief can take you through the toughest situations. Even without Bumrah at the other end, the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Telangana Police knew what he had to do. For him, losing was not an option.
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“I always believe that I can win the game from any point, and this morning was no different,” Siraj told Karthik during the post-match chat for Jio Hotstar.
Siraj ended with figures of 5 for 104 in 30.1 overs, and nine wickets in the match. It was a spell of control, aggression, and purpose.
“My only plan was to bowl in good areas. Didn’t matter if I took wickets or went for runs,” he added.
In the end, it wasn’t just about cricket. It was about belief. About bouncing back. About doing it for the team, for the father who’s no more, and for the country he loves deeply.
