Ravi Shastri, the former Indian head coach, praised Mohammed Siraj for his superb bowling performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy’s fifth and final Test against England. On Day 2 at The Oval in London, Siraj took four wickets for 86 runs.
Siraj took over as the forefront of India’s pace attack after Jasprit Bumrah was rested for the encounter.
He removed Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, and Joe Root, reducing England’s first-inning lead to 23 runs. Shastri lauded Siraj for his consistent performance during the tour, noting that the pacer has given his all from the start of the England series.
“He’s got a million dollar smile. He’s a deputy superintendent of police in Hyderabad. And in Hyderabad, everyone will say, ‘Miyan this guy has bowled like a lion.’ With a lion’s heart, he’s performed in this series, in Test matches, even when Bumrah is not there, he’s given his heart out. And he’s a trier. From day one, I’ve seen him, he gives his everything,” Shastri said on Sky Sports.
“He’s a deputy, superintendent, or police in Hyderabad!” 🫡
Ravi Shastri on Mohammed Siraj 🔥 pic.twitter.com/x6LbN6X9aK
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 2, 2025
Siraj has now claimed 18 wickets in the series, making him the leading wicket-taker of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He also etched his name in the history books by becoming the first Indian bowler to take multiple four-wicket hauls in Tests at The Oval. Shastri applauded the right-arm pacer for the intensity and energy he brought to the game. He noted that Siraj became particularly dangerous when he unleashed his stock delivery, which consistently troubled the English batters.
“You bring him on in a third spell, he’ll bowl with the same kind of energy as his first. And what he’s developed now is the ball, when he pitches it up, is outswing. That will make him doubly dangerous because his stock delivery, anyway, will be a handful on this kind of surface. But what a trier! I mean, that spell, Eight overs on the trot, where you thought he’s going to be finished,” Shastri added.
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