IND vs ENG: Mohammed Siraj is Team India’s senior pacer, jester, cheerleader and neo-Jonty Rhodes, all rolled into one

This England series has been about the arrival of that ‘apna time aayega’ generation, not just for the new captain but also for new seniors – vice-captain Rishabh Pant and the leader of the bowling pack in Bumrah’s absence, Siraj. Now you can see them on the central square, hear them often on the stump mic – it’s their time to have a say in the way the team plays. The apprentices have become the decision-makers and they aren’t embarrassed to say that they are loving it.

𝙒𝙀 𝘼𝙇𝙎𝙊 𝘽𝙀𝙇𝙄𝙀𝙑𝙀 𝙄𝙉 𝙎𝙄𝙍𝘼𝙅 𝘽𝙃𝘼𝙄 🤩

With fire in his stride, #Siraj delivers a ripping early blow, rocking England and igniting India’s charge in style 🎯

Is Siraj the spark for 1-1 redemption? 🤔#ENGvIND 👉 2nd TEST, Day 4 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar ➡… pic.twitter.com/4xOM3HIpQj

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 5, 2025

After getting the six wickets in the first innings and showing English bowlers the way to bowl on the pitch where they had conceded 587, Siraj was informed about his unique record by former India player turned commentator Deep Dasgupta. When bowling abroad in Bumrah’s absence, Siraj’s bowling average dips significantly. From taking a wicket after every 32 balls, he does so in just 23 when he is leading the attack.

“I love responsibility, I love challenges. Life mei kaafi challenge dekha hu wahan se ubhar ke aaya hu toh pasand hai mujhko challenge (I have seen many challenges in life, I have emerged from that tough situation and I love challenges). Whenever there is responsibility on me, I fulfill them very well,” he said.

Siraj’s father was a rickshaw driver and mother a house help. They lived on the other side of the track, struggling to make ends meet. Siraj took up cricket seriously because he wanted his parents to give up their arduous jobs and lead a peaceful retired life. He did so.

India’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates the dismissal of England’s Josh Tongue on day three of the second cricket test match between England and India at Edgbaston in Birmingham, England, Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo)

For Siraj, the man of the house after his father’s death, what was hand-holding a couple of young pacers? “Akash Deep is playing just his third-fourth Test, same is with Prasidh. I have played 38 Tests, so I knew how to bowl. Since we had scored lots of runs in the first innings, I would have gotten carried away and tried things. But I bowled tight, bowled in partnership so the bowler at the other end also has a chance of getting wickets,” he said.

Besides being a big-hearted senior, Siraj also wears the hat of the team’s on-field bowling coach, game-time mental guru and a strict school teacher. “I told Akash that I will give you 100 marks for the four balls you bowl in the middle of an over. But on the first and last balls he would concede a single or a four. But he bowled so well, happy for you,” Siraj said, giving Akash Deep a hug.

Not just being there for his pace partners, the motor-mouth Siraj hasn’t given up his old role of being the team’s cheerleader. On the final day of the Test, there were periods of play when India needed energy on the field. The cloud cover was threatening rains, even a wash out, time was at a premium, India needed wickets and had to be on their toes.

It was around that time that Karun Nair at covers came with a sharp one-handed save of what looked like a certain four. Pant would give his ‘shabash’ from behind the stumps, Siraj would run to pat his back from mid-on across the field. Ravindra Jadeja, manning the off-boundary as sweeper cover fielder, sprinted across to stop another sure-shot boundary with one hand and threw it perfectly to the keeper. Siraj was now waving frantically to draw Jadeja’s attention. Once he did, Siraj raised both his hands and gave a grand bow. Jadeja smiled, leaving the rest of the team in splits.

But who puts an arm around Siraj when Bumrah isn’t there? It’s captain Shubman Gill at mid-on who calms down the emotional player prone to bouts of anger and frustration. It is also Pant. It was the vice-captain wicket-keeper who suggested to Siraj to test Ben Stokes with a first-ball bouncer in the first innings. Stokes got out for a golden duck and Pant and Siraj celebrated like co-conspirators celebrating a heist.

WHAT. A. GRAB. 🥵

First with the ball…now in the field! Mohammed Siraj continues to impress at Edgbaston. ✨ #SonySportsNetwork #GroundTumharaJeetHamari #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings pic.twitter.com/rsQeJFNM1K

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 6, 2025

The life of this team, Siraj is easily the Mr Congeniality of the Indian dressing room. On Day 5, with India on the threshold of the win the England tailenders were putting on a stubborn late-order partnership. They were getting on the nerves of the Indians. That’s when Siraj came up with a stunning full length dive to hold a one-handed catch dismissing England pacer Josh Tongue.

The entire team rushed to the team’s pacer cum jester in chief. It was like a football goal celebration, there was a pile of men in flannel next to the pitch with Siraj buried at the bottom, sprawled on the turf. Finally, he emerged dusting his flannels, smiling like always. India discovered it has one captain with the arm band and a couple more without it.