Mohammed Siraj's Hard Work Shines in Test Match Against West Indies

Mohammed Siraj showcased his exceptional bowling skills on the first day of the Test match against the West Indies, taking four wickets and emphasizing the importance of hard work. His performance helped India restrict the West Indies to 162 runs. Despite early setbacks, KL Rahul's unbeaten fifty kept India in a strong position at 121 for 2. Discover more about Siraj's strategy and the match's highlights.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 3, 2025, 01:55 IST

Siraj's Stellar Performance on Day One

In Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on October 2, India's leading pace bowler, Mohammed Siraj, credited his impressive performance on the first day of the Test match against the West Indies to his dedication and effort. He acknowledged that each of his four wickets came through hard work during the match held on Thursday.

Siraj effectively dismantled the West Indies batting lineup, making them regret their decision to bat first after winning the toss. He concluded the first innings with remarkable figures of 4 wickets for 40 runs in 14 overs, placing him at the top of the wicket-takers list in the current World Test Championship Cycle with a total of 30 wickets.

Despite facing a lower-ranked team, Siraj emphasized that his success did not come easily. When asked about his performance in Ahmedabad, he dismissed the idea that it was a walk in the park.

“Even here, I earned my four wickets through hard work. You can only take wickets by putting in the effort. I worked hard in England for my wickets, and I did the same here. No one handed me those wickets; I had to earn them,” Siraj stated during a press conference, as reported by a Media Channel.

Among his four dismissals, Siraj outsmarted West Indies captain Roston Chase with a wobbling seam delivery. The wicket was set up when the ball left Siraj's hand with a scrambled seam. Typically, such deliveries can act like off-cutters, moving into the right-handed batsman. However, this particular ball straightened after landing, resulting in a leading edge caught by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.

“The wobble-seam delivery can sometimes straighten or cut in towards the right-handed batsman,” Siraj explained at the end of the day's play. “That ball straightened towards the shiny side. I usually aim to move the wobble-seam ball in, but it kept straightening and took the edge, leading to the catch behind,” he added.

Siraj's impressive four-wicket haul, along with Jasprit Bumrah's three wickets, led to the West Indies being bowled out for just 162 runs. In response, India faced a minor setback with the dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal (36) and Sai Sudharsan (7), but KL Rahul's unbeaten fifty helped India reach 121 for 2 by the end of the day's play.