ICC umpire Kumar Dharmasena’s shoutout to Mohammed Siraj: ‘So lucky to…’ | Cricket News
Mohammed Siraj delivered a match-winning performance at the Oval cricket ground, taking five wickets in the second innings to secure India’s six-run victory over England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test series. The 31-year-old pacer emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the series with 23 wickets, helping India level the five-match series and earning himself the Player of the Match award at the Oval.On the final day of the Test match, India needed four wickets while England required 35 runs for victory. Jamie Overton initially put pressure on India by hitting two boundaries off Prasidh Krishna’s first two deliveries.Siraj turned the match in India’s favor by dismissing Jamie Smith in his opening over. He went on to claim two more crucial wickets, including the final dismissal of Gus Atkinson with a yorker when England was just seven runs away from the target.
ICC Elite Level Umpire Kumar Dharmasena, who officiated the Oval Test, shared a photograph of Siraj’s match-winning delivery on Instagram with the caption: “So lucky to witness this ball from the best seat in the house.”
Kumar Dharmasena’s Instagram post
The victory at the Oval came after Siraj experienced disappointment at Lord’s Test when the ball rolled back onto his stumps. His performance in the series has resulted in his rise to the 15th position in the ICC Test Rankings.
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Siraj’s journey in the Oval Test had its challenges. On Day 4, he dropped a catch of Harry Brook inside the boundary line, who went on to score 111 runs. Brook and Joe Root formed a partnership of 195 runs for the fourth wicket, putting England in a strong position to chase down the target of 374.The Indian pacer demonstrated leadership in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, taking responsibility for the pace attack. His impact was also evident in the Edgbaston Test, where India won by 336 runs, with Siraj claiming six wickets in the first innings.Siraj celebrated his achievement at the Oval with a Cristiano Ronaldo-style celebration after taking the final wicket. His nine-wicket haul in the series decider contributed significantly to India’s victory.The performance highlighted Siraj’s role as the workhorse of India’s pace attack, consistently delivering crucial breakthroughs throughout the series. His ability to step up in pressure situations and lead the bowling attack in Bumrah’s absence demonstrated his growing importance to the Indian Test team.The series showcased Siraj’s evolution as a Test bowler, particularly in English conditions, where he maintained consistent line and length while generating movement to trouble the opposition batsmen. His success in the series established him as a key component of India’s fast bowling arsenal in Test cricket.
