Oval: Pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj, who led India to a memorable victory in the final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, shared an emotional message for former Indian captain Virat Kohli, following India’s comeback win that leveled the five-match series 2-2.
Siraj, the architect of the final day triumph at The Oval, claimed five wickets in the second innings three of them on the crucial last day sealing India’s 220-run win. His efforts earned him the Player of the Match title, but beyond the on-field glory, it was his heartfelt reply to Kohli that drew wide attention.
After India wrapped up the Test series on a high, Kohli took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to express his pride in the bowling duo of Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
“A great victory for India. The strength and determination of Siraj and Prasidh contributed to this rare victory. Special thanks to Siraj who gives everything for the team. I'm so happy for him,” Kohli wrote.
Siraj promptly responded: “Thank you, brother, for believing in me.”
The sentiment carried more weight considering Kohli had given Siraj his Test debut during the 2020-21 tour of Australia, a series where Siraj emerged as a resilient performer despite personal grief. The bond between the two grew stronger over the years, with Siraj also playing under Kohli’s captaincy for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) from 2018 to 2024.
In the just-concluded series against England, Siraj emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 23 dismissals across five Tests. The final Test saw India needing four wickets on the last day with England requiring just 35 runs. Under high pressure, Siraj dismissed three of the remaining batters while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with one, sealing India’s dramatic win.
The Test series might have ended in a draw, but for Siraj, it was a personal triumph a culmination of hard work, unwavering team spirit, and gratitude to the mentor who believed in him from the start.