Mohammed Siraj may not always be the first name celebrated when India registers a famous win but his impact on the team’s overseas dominance continues to grow with every landmark performance. After a modest outing in the first Test at Headingley during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Siraj made a thunderous return at Edgbaston. His six-wicket haul in England’s first innings set the tone and he followed it up by dismissing Zak Crawley in the second to finish with seven wickets in India’s emphatic 336-run win.
While much of the attention post-match was deservedly focused on Shubman Gill’s record-breaking double century and Akash Deep’s maiden 10-wicket haul, Mohammed Siraj’s contributions, particularly his crucial spell on the third morning that saw him remove Joe Root and Ben Stokes in quick succession, played a pivotal role in derailing England’s first innings momentum.
India’s win at Edgbaston marked a significant moment in the country’s Test history, being their first victory at the venue after eight winless matches spanning decades. What adds a unique layer to this achievement is Mohammed Siraj’s consistent presence in some of India’s most challenging overseas conquests.
A remarkable stat reveals that Siraj has featured in all five of India’s historic victories at venues where the team had never previously tasted success – the Gabba in Brisbane (2021), Centurion Park (2021), Cape Town (2024), Optus Stadium in Perth (2024) and now Edgbaston.
In each of these matches, Siraj has played a vital role. At the Gabba, he took his first five-wicket haul in the second innings. In Centurion, he contributed with three important scalps. His most sensational performance came in Cape Town, where he returned his career-best figures of 6 for 15 in the first innings. At the Optus Stadium, he again delivered a solid showing with five wickets across both the innings. His display at Edgbaston only reaffirmed his ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest.
After his six-wicket haul at Headingley, Siraj had spoken about his desire to shoulder more responsibility in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, saying he thrives under such expectations. But his track record now shows something even more special, that beyond filling in, he embraces these high-pressure moments and seems to relish the challenge of creating history with his team.
Well, taking these stats into consideration, it appears that Mohammed Siraj is indeed the lucky charm for team India. What do you say?
