Follow UsWhen Mohammed Siraj broke Gus Atkinson's defences, he celebrated like his favourite footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo, as he normally does. But this would have been extra special as he not just picked up his fifth of the innings, but also led India to a six-run victory at the Oval on August 4 (Monday). More importantly, with this win, India have levelled the five-match series 2-2.
He finished with nine wickets in the match and 23 wickets in the series, the most by any bowler.
Asked to reflect on the match and his spell, Siraj said, "I was just thinking that I should bowl in the right areas. To be honest, I didn't think that I would take the [Harry Brook] catch and step on the rope. It was a match-changing moment. Yes, I always believed in myself that I would do it for the team."
When India won the T20 World Cup in June last year, Siraj famously said that he always believed in Jassi Bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) to deliver. The pacer has now turned that belief on himself and has led India to a famous win in England. In fact, both of India's victories came when Bumrah did not featured in the XI.
England needed just 35 runs more to win heading into Day 5, but Siraj struck early, getting rid of the dangerous Jamie Smith cheaply. Two overs later, he had Jamie Overton trapped leg-before. However, when Prasidh Krishna bowled Josh Tongue for a duck, England were still 17 runs away.
But India kept the pressure, and Siraj eventually wrapped things up in the end.