Mohammed Siraj marked a significant career milestone, picking up his 200th international wicket, while his impactful bowling spell helped India claw back into the crucial fifth Test against England.
Siraj’s Game-Changing Spell
Siraj showcased his characteristic grit at The Oval, delivering a high-intensity post-lunch spell that turned the tide for India in the fifth Test. Initially, England’s ‘Bazball’ openers had dominated, putting India on the back foot with a boundary barrage.
However, Siraj found his rhythm and precision. He claimed the crucial wickets of Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Jacob Bethell, all dismissed LBW, and later wrapped up England’s innings with the wicket of Harry Brook. His efforts were instrumental in pulling India back into contention after a challenging start to the day.
Joining an Elite Indian Club
With his recent performance, Mohammed Siraj now boasts 203 international wickets across all three formats in 101 appearances for India.
This achievement makes him only the 15th pace bowler from India to cross the 200-wicket mark in international cricket. It’s a testament to his consistent contributions and growing stature in the national team.
India’s Pace Bowling Legends
The list of Indian pacers with 200 or more international wickets is an impressive roll call of legends.
Leading the pack is the iconic former India captain Kapil Dev, with a staggering 687 wickets in 356 international appearances. He is followed by Zaheer Khan, who has 597 wickets, just three short of the 600-mark.
Javagal Srinath is the only other Indian pacer to have taken more than 500 wickets, with 551. In the 400-wicket club are Mohammed Shami (462), Jasprit Bumrah (457), and Ishant Sharma (434).
The 300-wicket club includes current national chief selector Ajit Agarkar (349) and Irfan Pathan. Other notable pacers in the 200-300 wicket bracket are Bhuvneshwar Kumar (292), Umesh Yadav (288), Manoj Prabhakar (253), Ashish Nehra (233), and Hardik Pandya (202), with Siraj now firmly in this esteemed group.
Leading the Series Wicket Takers
Siraj’s four-wicket haul against England also propelled him to become the leading wicket-taker in the ongoing series.
He now has 18 wickets to his name, one ahead of England captain Ben Stokes, who has 17 and is not participating in the fifth Test, ensuring Siraj stays at the top.
A Match of Swings and Momentum
The fifth Test itself has been a thrilling seesaw battle, characteristic of the entire series. England began their reply in their aggressive ‘Bazball’ style, exemplified by Ben Duckett’s extraordinary reverse hook for six.
They achieved their fastest 50-run opening partnership in Test history within seven overs. However, India’s bowlers, especially Siraj, worked diligently to pull things back.
They chipped away at the wickets, preventing England from building massive partnerships and ensuring the match remained finely balanced. The post-lunch session saw intense bowling from India, as they clawed back crucial momentum, turning the match into a nail-biting contest.
- Mohammed Siraj reached 203 international wickets, becoming the 15th Indian pacer to cross the 200-wicket mark.
- His four-wicket haul in the 5th Test against England included key dismissals of Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Jacob Bethell.
- Siraj is now the leading wicket-taker in the series with 18 wickets.
- India fought back strongly in the 5th Test after an aggressive start from England’s openers.
Siraj’s milestone and his crucial performance underscore his growing importance in the Indian bowling attack across all formats, proving to be a true match-winner when it matters most.
