Mohammed Siraj Shines with Six-Wicket Haul Against England

Siraj's Stellar Performance at Edgbaston

Birmingham, July 5: Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj expressed his excitement after achieving a remarkable six-wicket haul during the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Friday.

Siraj's impressive figures of 6 for 70 played a crucial role in helping India regain momentum after England's formidable 303-run partnership between Harry Brook (158) and Jamie Smith (184 not out), which had put the hosts in a commanding position. This partnership propelled England to a total of 407 after they were struggling at 84 for 5.

"This feeling is incredible. I have been anticipating a moment like this for over a year. Although I have bowled well, wickets have eluded me. The morning session felt promising, but I still couldn't break through, so these six wickets are particularly meaningful," Siraj shared with JioHotsar.

Following Akash Deep's dismissal of Brook, Siraj swiftly took care of England's lower order, claiming the wickets of Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.

On the third day, Siraj made his mark by dismissing Joe Root (22) and then quickly followed up by taking out captain Ben Stokes on the very next delivery, putting England on the back foot. Earlier, on Day 2, he had also removed opener Zak Crawley for 19.

Discussing the tough conditions at Edgbaston, Siraj mentioned his affinity for performing under pressure, noting that India's substantial first innings total of 587 provided a significant cushion.

"The pitch was slow, but I understood my responsibilities. I haven't played many matches lately, but with my experience, I knew to keep it simple. I focused on bowling in the right areas to build pressure and shift the atmosphere. Having played 38 Tests, my goal was to maintain stability. With 600 runs on the board, I wasn't looking to chase wickets aggressively; I aimed for consistency. I thrive on responsibility and challenges. I've faced many obstacles in life, and I believe I perform best when the pressure is on," the pacer explained.

As of now, India leads England by 244 runs, with KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal providing a solid start in their second innings. At stumps on day three, India was at 64 for 1 in 13 overs. Although Jaiswal was dismissed for 28, Rahul remained unbeaten on the same score, with Karun Nair supporting him at seven not out.