Mohammed Siraj woke up at six o’clock in the morning on Monday, took out his phone, and searched the internet for a wallpaper with the word ‘Believe’ written on it.
The first thing that he came across was a picture of Cristiano Ronaldo in the Manchester United colours. And for the next few minutes, he looked at the picture and muttered the word ‘Believe’ at least a couple of times.
Once the picture made it to his wallpaper, Siraj kept looking at it until he reached The Oval. “I usually wake up at eight o’clock, but today, I got up early. So, I Googled this picture and downloaded it, because I knew I could do it for my country. It’s important to believe in yourself,” he said, after claiming a five-for and guiding India to a six-run win.
With Jasprit Bumrah featuring in just three Tests to manage his workload, Siraj stepped up and backed himself to carry out the role of the senior pacer. Not making a fuss about workload or a quick turnaround time, Siraj bowled 185.3 overs in the series—1,113 deliveries to be specific—and finished as the leading wicket-taker of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with 23 wickets.
“To be honest, my body is fine right now, because there have been almost 187 overs in this series. But you play for your country, and you give your everything, and then you don’t think about whether you bowled six overs or nine overs. I believe that I bowl every ball for the country and not for myself. You play for the country and give your everything; the rest is not in your control,” Siraj said.
He claimed 20 wickets in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year, as the second bowler to Bumrah. But while leading the pack in England, he shone bright.
“I took 20 wickets in Border-Gavaskar Trophy. When Jassi bhai was performing, my aim was to build those partnerships with him, because I did not want to leak runs. So, it was about building pressure. But I know that I can pick up wickets from any situation. I just want to give my 100 per cent and take things in my stride,” he said.
In the third Test at Lord’s, it was heartbreak for Siraj as India lost a close game, and here too, on the fourth day, Siraj dropped Harry Brook, who later went on to score a century. Brook, batting on 19 then, mistimed a short ball from Prasidh Krishna to fine leg, where Siraj completed the catch but eventually ended up stepping over the rope. While it was a reprieve for Brook, Siraj, who had just taken the field after a long eight-over spell, was visibly upset.
However, he ensured that India had the last laugh. “After Lord’s Test and that dropped catch of Brook, I asked myself why such things always happen to me? But then, the Almighty has written some good things about me as well,” he said, looking at the medal after guiding the team to one of its iconic wins.
