I even told Aakash to take out remaining four wickets, says Mohammed Siraj

ANI July 5, 2025 317 views

Mohammed Siraj delivered a stellar performance with a six-wicket haul in the second test against England, showcasing India's bowling prowess. His partnership with Akash Deep was particularly noteworthy, with Siraj praising his teammate's hunger and potential. India's strong batting, led by Shubman Gill's impressive 269, further consolidated their dominant position in the match. The team finished Day 3 with a substantial lead of 244 runs, putting them in an excellent position to potentially win the test.

"I would have given the ball to Aakash if I had the same number of wickets as Aakash" - Mohammed Siraj, BCCI Interview
Birmingham, July 5: After taking a six-wicket haul in the first innings of the second test against England, Indian seamer Mohammed Siraj said he would have given the ball to his bowling partner Akash Deep if he had the same number of wickets as Akash.

Key Points

1

Siraj takes six crucial wickets including Ben Stokes' duck

2

Akash Deep supports with four wickets in first innings

3

India leads by 244 runs after Day 3

4

Shubman Gill's 269 sets strong foundation for Indian team

Deep finished the first innings with four wickets in 20 overs, conceded 88 runs at an economy of 4.40.

Mohammed Siraj grabbed six wickets as India bowled out England for 407 runs, taking a first-innings lead of 180 runs in the second test.

In a video posted by BCCI, Siraj said, "I would have given the ball to Aakash if I had the same number of wickets as Aakash. My first five-wicket haul was in Australia. It is a memory for me. I would have given the ball to Aakash. I even told Aakash to take out the remaining four wickets."

Siraj praised Deep for his brilliance in the first innings and said he was waiting for the opportunity.

"He was waiting for the opportunity. He has shown how hungry he is. To be honest, I enjoyed bowling with him. My aim was not to give runs from my end. I wanted to control myself and put pressure on the opposition," he added.

Siraj's spell, particularly with the second new ball, ensured India retained a strong hold on the game. He claimed six wickets, four of them from the final five in England's innings, including the wicket of England skipper Ben Stokes for a duck.

Coming to the match, before the end of the day play, India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal for 28. Rahul 28* and Karun Nair 7* stand tall on the crease as India finished Day 3 on 64/1, leading by 244.

Brief score: India: 587 (Shubman Gill 269, Ravindra Jadeja 89, Shoaib Bashir 3/167) against England: 407 ( Jamie Smith 184*, Harry Brook 158; Mohammed Siraj 6/70/). India 64/1 (KL Rahul 28*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 28; Josh Tongue 1/12).

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As an England fan, this was painful to watch but you have to admire Siraj's skill. That delivery to Stokes was unplayable! India's bowling attack looks really balanced now.
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Ananya R
So proud of how Siraj has matured as a bowler! Remember when he debuted and now look at him - leading the attack with such confidence. And what sportsmanship to encourage Akash Deep ❤️
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Vikram M
Good performance but let's not get carried away. England's batting collapsed - some poor shots there. Real test will be when they bat again. Need to win this to keep series alive!
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Kavya N
That partnership between Siraj and Akash Deep was beautiful to watch! Finally our fast bowlers are working together like a proper unit. More of this please! 🇮🇳
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Michael C
Interesting to see Siraj's growth since that Gabba test. He's developed real consistency now. Though I think England will come back hard tomorrow - that lead isn't safe yet!

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Mohammed Siraj India Cricket England Test Series Akash Deep Cricket Bowling Birmingham Test