Mohammed Siraj’s performance on India’s tour of England earned high praise from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, prompting a heartfelt response from the pacer.
Tendulkar commended Siraj’s relentless approach,
even suggesting that England great Joe Root, the second-highest run-scorer in Test history, would find him a challenging opponent.
“If you don’t look at the scoreboard and only at his (Siraj’s) body language, you won’t be able to tell if he’s taken five wickets or not a single one,” Sachin said.
“He’s an ‘always in your face’ bowler,” Tendulkar added.
Siraj responded on social media with: “Thank you sir.”
Thank you sir ❤️❤️🙏🏽 https://t.co/tTMHw9ophB
— Mohammed Siraj (@mdsirajofficial) August 10, 2025
Why Sachin Praised Siraj?
Siraj starred for India, playing a stellar role in his team’s 2-2 draw in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England.
Siraj was the leading wicket-taker in the five-match series with 23 scalps. The India pacer’s most definitive effort came on the fifth day of the final Test at the Oval, helping India bowl out England for 367 in the chase of 374.
Siraj took five wickets in the innings to complete a match-haul of nine wickets in that match.
The six-run win, the slimmest in India’s Test history, earned the visitors a highly admirable 2-2 draw in the series.
India skipper Shubman Gill was delighted to see Siraj stepping up in the absence of premier pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested from the Oval Test as per the workload management plan.
“He [Siraj] is a captain’s dream, every ball, every spell he bowled he came all out and gave it everything for the team,” said Gill after the fifth Test.
On his part, Siraj said he always had the belief of taking his team to victory on the final day at the Oval, as the visitors needed to pick up four wickets while defending a paltry 35 runs.
“I always believe that I can win the game from any point, and this morning was no different,” he had said.
(With inputs from Agencies)
