Star pacer Mohammed Siraj recently spoke up about the devastating moment that destroyed India’s dreams of a historic win at Lord’s during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in 2025. Despite his outstanding all-round performance and a spirited last-wicket stand with Ravindra Jadeja, Siraj’s unlucky departure on Day 5 of the third Test against England resulted in a tight victory for the hosts. The Hyderabad-born bowler said that the incident still haunts him.
The Lord’s Test was one of the most exciting games of the five-match India-England series. Chasing 193 for win, the visitors were in trouble as England’s pace attack put up a brilliant performance. However, Jadeja’s knock saved India. With wickets coming at the other end, Siraj joined the senior all-rounder to take the final wicket. The duo battled England’s attack for over an hour, bringing India within 22 runs of an unexpected triumph. Siraj, who had previously excelled with the ball earlier in the match by taking four wickets, demonstrated unexpected composure with the bat until losing his wicket unexpectedly.
“It is still shocking to me. I don’t know how it happened. If you see carefully, while the ball is travelling towards the stumps, a small pebble comes in the way and the ball bounces up off it, reaches the stumps to just about hit and a bail drops. That moment keeps popping up on Insta reels. When I see those reels, I get emotional. We had almost lost that match, but we were back in the Test. I was feeling so comfortable, there was no way I felt I could get out,” Siraj said while speaking to The Indian Express.
I aimed to become the highest wicket-taker there: Mohammed Siraj
That wicket sealed England’s win by 22 runs and handed India a heartbreaking defeat. Notably, Siraj had been India’s standout performer throughout the series, leading the wicket charts with 23 wickets in five Tests at an average of 32.43. With Jasprit Bumrah being rested for two matches, Siraj led the attack, delivering 185.3 overs across the series. The series eventually ended in a 2-2 draw. The pacer further revealed that he had been in a special mental zone during the series, which helped him stay focused and confident.
“When I landed in England, my aim was to become the highest wicket-taker there. That was my zone. During the whole series, I was mentally strong — I wanted to be 100 per cent fit, 100 per cent available, and play all five matches. My rhythm was also very good when I played the practice matches. When I found out that Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) was not going to play all the matches, since I was the second senior fast bowler in the team, I wanted to give my 100 per cent,” he added.
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