“Why am I being tested like this?”

Team India star Mohammed Siraj went down memory lane and opened up on the iconic victory at the Oval. India beat England by six runs in a thrilling Test to level the series 2-2 during their tour last year. Siraj is currently with the side in Sri Lanka in their ongoing Test series.

Amid the second Test, Siraj revealed how he was motivated to win the game for his country. The pacer had dropped a crucial catch in that match, taking it cleanly but stepping on the boundary line while doing so. However, he more than made up for it, ending the game with nine wickets across both innings as India pulled off a miraculous win.

“It was very difficult to win from there. But again, something happened with me. I took that catch but stepped on the boundary. Again, I felt like, why am I being tested like this? But I decided that I would win the game. I got up at six that day. But I was really very fatigued. There was a voice within myself that said that I would win the game for the country. I have never had such a rhythm ever on day five as I had that day,” he said. (via Sony Sports Network)

Siraj had a brilliant tour, ending as the leading wicket-taker in the five-match Test series with 23 scalps at an average of 32.43.

Mohammed Siraj recalls India’s agonising defeat at Lord’s

India could have ended with a historic series victory had they managed to win the Lord’s Test, which they ended up losing by a close margin of 22 runs. In the final innings, Mohammed Siraj was the last wicket to fall. He was dismissed for four runs after facing 30 balls. He defended a delivery from Shoaib Bashir, but the ball trickled and rolled back onto the leg stump, leaving Siraj and India in complete disbelief.

“It was a young team and had we won the series, it would have been very satisfying. It was a game we should have won. Bumrah played 70-80 balls. Then Jadeja scored 60-70 runs. My only plan was not to lose my wicket. But see how I am tested all the time, and I am at the front in every situation. I got very emotional about how I could get bowled after defending so well. If it was my mistake, fine. But I defended the ball. That hurt me,” he said.

Chasing 193, the visitors fell short and were eventually bundled out for 170. It was a tough loss, having gotten close.