Mohammed Siraj admitted he missed his bowling partner Jasprit Bumrah after helping India clinch a thrilling six-run victory against England to level the series 2-2 at The Oval.
Siraj, who ended the five-match series as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps, reflected on the win and a crucial moment on Day 4 when he dropped a catch of Harry Brook that could have sealed the match earlier.
The Hyderabad pacer was open about how much pressure he felt on Day 5. With just 35 runs to defend and no Jasprit Bumrah at the other end, Mohammed Siraj scripted a memorable comeback as England collapsed from 301/3 to 367/10.
Mohammed Siraj Opens Up on Jasprit Bumrah’s Absence After India’s Win at The Oval
When asked about Bumrah, who was released from the squad earlier in the match, Siraj was quick to acknowledge the void his senior left behind. The duo had been India’s strike pair in Test cricket and Siraj admitted that the final day felt different without Bumrah sharing the load.
"I am missing Jassi bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) kyuki wo rehte to alag presence rehta unka (I am missing Jassi Bhai because it would have felt different if he were present here)," Siraj said as quoted to the media.
Reflecting on the dropped catch of Brook, Siraj confessed how that moment kept playing in his head all night.
"To be honest jo mere emotions hai wo mai describe nahi kar sakta. Mai soch raha tha ki mai kaise wo catch chor diya. Agar mai wo catch le leta to aj dopeher ko hum relax karte par uparwale ne kuch socha hoga (To be honest, I can’t describe what I was feeling. I kept thinking about how I dropped that catch. If I had taken it, we could have relaxed this afternoon. But maybe God had something else in mind)," he added.
Mohammed Siraj Leads India to Famous Win, Series Ends 2-2
Siraj was the architect of India’s historic victory at The Oval. On Day 5, England resumed at 339/6 and needed only 35 runs to win the match and the series. But Siraj had other plans. He began with the wickets of Jamie Smith and Jamie Overton.
Prasidh Krishna then chipped in by removing Josh Tongue but the final blow came from Siraj himself. He cleaned up Gus Atkinson as India emerged victorious by six runs. He finished with figures of 5/104 in the second innings and also ended up being the joint-highest Indian wicket-taker in a Test series in England.
With this win, India squared the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2-2.
Also read: IND vs ENG 2025: “England Boys Call Him ...” - Nasser Hussain Reveals Mohammed Siraj’s Nickname
