Siraj doesn’t get the credit he deserves, I love his attitude: Sachin Tendulkar
Legendary India batter Sachin Tendulkar has praised Mohammed Siraj, saying he admires the fast bowler’s attitude and believes Siraj doesn’t get the credit he truly deserves. On Day Five at The Oval, Siraj delivered a stunning performance, picking 5 for 104 as India clinched a thrilling six-run win over England to level the five-match Test series 2-2.
England had no answers to Siraj’s precision, especially as he ripped through the lower order with a fiery spell of three wickets for just nine runs in 25 balls on the final day. Appropriately, Siraj sealed India’s win by dismantling Gus Atkinson’s off-stump, cementing his place in Indian cricket folklore.
“Unbelievable. Superb approach. I love his attitude. I love the spring in his legs. For a fast bowler to be constantly in your face like that, no batsman will like it. And the approach he maintained until the end on the last day; I could also hear commentators saying he bowled around 90mph (145kph) on the last day, after having bowled more than 1,000 deliveries in the series. That shows his courage and big heart,” said Tendulkar in a video posted on his Reddit account.
Siraj ended the series as the leading wicket-taker, claiming 23 wickets at an average of 32.43, while bowling a staggering 1,113 deliveries.
“The way he started on the last day was remarkable. He has always been instrumental, playing a key role whenever we need him, whenever we want him to deliver that knockout punch. He’s been able to do that consistently in the past, and so was the case in this series. The way he picked all those wickets and performed – he doesn’t get the credit he deserves,” Tendulkar added.
Siraj emerged as the standout performer in a series where Jasprit Bumrah featured in only three matches due to workload management, especially after sustaining a back injury during the Sydney Test against Australia in January this year. Bumrah picked up 14 wickets in his three appearances against England, including two five-wicket hauls.
Tendulkar also defended Bumrah, brushing off criticisms around India’s wins in his absence.
“I know people are discussing a number of things – ‘Jo Tests khela nahi, voh hum jeete’ (India won the Tests he didn’t play), and all that. To me, that’s just a coincidence, to be honest.
“Bumrah started really well, got five wickets in the first Test. He didn’t play the second, but in the third and fourth again at Lord’s, he took five wickets. So, out of the three Tests he played, he picked five wickets twice.”
“The quality of Bumrah is exceptional. It’s unbelievable what he has been able to do so far. To me, he has been a consistent performer without any doubt. I would put him right at the top with anyone else,” Tendulkar concluded.
