ENG Vs IND : Mohammed Siraj Turns Into Virat Kohli; Fires Up Crowd With Passionate Appeal

The stage was set. The Oval, Day 4 of the fifth and final Test in the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy. England, chasing 374 for victory, looked every bit the favorites. With India’s hopes resting on a potential series-clinching draw, the scene was poised for a classic finish.

Then came the moment.

Mohammed Siraj, after striking twice in quick successions off Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell, turned to the stands, his arm outstretched, and passionately implored the Indian crowd to raise their volume. “C’mon!” he urged. The stadium, long pauzed, erupted in electrifying crescendo.

It was unmistakably Virat Kohli-esque — an aggressive captain’s toolkit deployed by a fiery Indian pacer. Except this time, it wasn’t Kohli; it was Siraj.

Siraj’s Moment: More Than Just a Cheer

For decades, Indian cricket fans have associated the chant “Kohli, Kohli” with electrifying energy and emotional fire. Now, Siraj has offered a new visual: steely-eyed, bow-tapping intensity and a rallying cry that shifted momentum on England’s manicured turf.

As the crowd roared, Siraj delivered:

Name of the dismissing victims: Brook and Bethell fell in the space of three overs.
The vitality of timing: His appeal came when energy was flagging — and it reignited the stands.
The look on his face: Focused, relentless, determined.

Within minutes, his teammates – the likes of Jadeja and Sundar – began celebrating in closer proximity to the boundary, feeding on the surge created in the stands and the field. India’s determination was not only audible—it was tangible.

Why This Matters: Leadership Beyond the Stat Sheet

When Jasprit Bumrah was rested midway through the series, and others were unavailable or below par, it was Siraj who assumed the mantle of workhorse and de facto leader of India’s pace pack. Over the series, he bowled more than 180 overs, making 20 critical wickets along the way—leading the tournament in dismissals and eclipsing Josh Tongue’s tally for England.

Key highlights from the series:

Edgbaston (2nd Test): Siraj unleashed a blistering 6/70 to help India win by a commanding margin.
Old Trafford (4th Test): His 4-wicket haul including Root and Pope limited England’s lead, giving India a chance to fight back.
The Oval (5th Test): Despite a fielding slip costing India momentum, Siraj bounced back to claim vital breakthroughs and fire up the stadium.

His growing maturity was noticed by Morne Morkel, India’s bowling coach, who lauded Siraj’s rhythm and endurance. Meanwhile, England’s Joe Root called him a “real warrior”—a testament not only to his pace but his picture-perfect temperament.

Findings of a Fighter: Siraj’s Signature Traits

What makes Siraj more than just an aggressive bowler?

Trait	Description
Longevity	Delivered pace spells across five Tests without fading
Adaptability	Seam, swing, reverse-swing—effectively used it all
Composure	Even when mistakes happen, he responded, not retreated
Captured the Crowd	His appeal to the fans mirrored the battlefield leadership once Kohli became famed for

In a crucial fourth-innings chase, it is not just the bowler’s skill but his ability to galvanize collective energy that matters—Siraj delivered on both fronts.

Comparisons with Kohli: Not Imitation, but Impact

While Siraj is no VickT—, the similarities in mindset stood out:

Vocal leadership in tight spots
Appeals aimed as psychological triggers
Passion that transcends simple bowling

Where Kohli was known to flag opponents into mistakes, Siraj chain-smoked England’s nerves by combining bowling aggression with fan engagement—turning The Oval into an Indian fortress, even 20 minutes at a time.

A Legacy Match: Siraj Crosses Tendulkar’s Wicket Total

By his sixth wicket on Day 2 at The Oval, Siraj had surpassed Sachin Tendulkar’s tally of international wickets, becoming the fastest Indian off-spinner to reach that milestone—ironically off his first wicket of the innings. The moment offered even a deeper symbolic note: Siraj, a fast bowler, crossing a figure previously associated with spin.

India’s Path Forward: What Siraj Means for the Pace Corps

With World Test Championship cycles and away diplays critical in coming years, India needs more bowlers who can:

Walk in under pressure
Fill big overs across sessions
Communicate with the crowd and stay unapologetically aggressive

Siraj now fits that bill. Whether leading a frontline new-ball attack or sealing fourth-innings fights, he has the temperament for raw intensity and cerebral control. He’s auditioned for leadership in the arena where Test cricket is often won or lost.

Beyond the Oval: Building on Momentum

Siraj’s impact will resonate in future squads:

The team and selectors now have a trusted pace leader in overseas conditions.
His second-string targets are clear models: aggression, rhythm, mental toughness, and poise.
With India touring Australia, South Africa, and continuing the WTC cycle, Siraj could be a lynchpin—especially as India integrates younger pacers like Mukesh Kumar and may manage Bumrah’s workload.

A Crowd-Builder, Not Just a Wicket-Taker

Indian cricket has celebrated many characters atop Leicestershire’s indoor nets—and Kohli gave us one kind of fire. Siraj’s Oval exploration showed a different spark: less flash, more practical—a flame rooted at his toes but meant to burn outwards: to the crowd, the teammates, the scoreboard.

His Day 4 appeal may not go on Instagram highlight reels—because Siraj isn’t about highlights; he’s about fights.

As India dreams of regaining its Test identity, Siraj’s blend of disdain for retreat and trust in collective thrust makes him more than a wicket-taker—he’s a bonafide Test match influencer.

Key Stats from the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy 2025:

Period/Test	Wickets	Overs	Notable Victims
Edgbaston, 2nd Test	6/70	31	Woakes, Broad, Bairstow, others
Old Trafford, 4th Test	4 wickets	28	Pope, Root, Duckett
The Oval, 5th Test	4 wickets	32	Brook, Beale-Thompson, Bethell etc