In a high-stakes, tense chase on Day 4 of the fifth Test at The Oval, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj turned up the heat by actively engaging the crowd in a manner reminiscent of his former captain, Virat Kohli.
Mohammed Siraj channels inner Virat Kohli with a passionate appeal to the crowd
As England‘s pursuit of a daunting 374-run target became increasingly tricky, Siraj was caught on camera passionately urging the Indian supporters to cheer louder, a move designed to fire up his team and put pressure on the England batters. This act of firing up the crowd, a trademark of Kohli’s aggressive captaincy, was a clear signal of India’s determination to fight for every wicket and secure a series-leveling victory.
The moment came after India had taken two crucial wickets of Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell in the final session, shifting the momentum back in their favor. With the match poised on a knife’s edge and the home crowd growing quieter, Siraj’s gesture was an electrifying moment that captured the fighting spirit of the Indian team. His actions, caught on a viral video, quickly drew comparisons to Kohli, who has often used similar tactics to energize his team in tight situations. This aggressive and vocal approach from Siraj, who has taken two key wickets in the innings, including the crucial dismissal of Zak Crawley on Day 3, highlights his maturity as a bowler and his growing importance as a leader in India’s pace attack.
Here’s the video:
“Virat Kohli-style”
Siraj calls on the crowd 🗣️ pic.twitter.com/vaIW5wjYS6
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2025
Siraj’s lion-hearted performance in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025
Throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Siraj emerged as India’s tireless workhorse and a natural leader of the pace attack. With Jasprit Bumrah being rested for parts of the series, Siraj shouldered a heavy workload, featuring in all five Tests and bowling over 180 overs in total.
His relentless effort was particularly crucial in the absence of other senior pacers, and he rose to the occasion by consistently delivering probing spells and making key breakthroughs. Siraj’s fighting spirit was a major factor in India’s performance, as he kept charging in with intensity even when the England batters were in full flow. His performance drew praise from both his bowling coach Morne Morkel and even England’s Joe Root, who called him a “real warrior.”
Siraj’s match-winning potential was on full display in the second Test at Edgbaston, where he spearheaded India’s attack with a brilliant 6/70 that helped them secure a dominant victory. He continued to be a potent force throughout the series, and his relentless effort paid off in the final Test at The Oval. On Day 2, he claimed a crucial four-wicket haul, taking key scalps like Ollie Pope and Joe Root to dismantle England’s middle order and limit their first-innings lead to a mere 23 runs.
This performance also saw him surpass the legendary Sachin Tendulkar‘s tally of international wickets. As the series reached its climax on Day 4, Siraj’s fighting spirit was on full display again. Despite a costly fielding blunder, he managed to pick up two key wickets and, in a Kohli-like gesture, urged the Indian crowd to rally behind the team in a tense fourth-innings chase. His overall performance saw him become the leading wicket-taker of the series with 20 scalps, surpassing England’s Josh Tongue.
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