The pacer has firmly established himself as India’s spearhead in Test cricket, taking 23 wickets in the recent series against England. Notably, Siraj and England’s Chris Woakes were the only fast bowlers to feature in all five matches for their respective sides. Earlier, he had also played every game in the memorable tour of Australia — which turned out to be the final Test series for Indian stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom retired from the format in May this year, just before the England series.
In a candid chat with RevSportz, Siraj revealed how Virat Kohli mindset shaped his own approach.
“I’ve learned a lot from Virat Kohli bhai, especially his fighting spirit. Off the field, he is very warm and friendly, but once he steps onto the ground, the opposition is his enemy. That’s something I admire, and my bowling also thrives on aggression,” Siraj said.
He further added, “If I don’t show that aggression on the field, I won’t be able to bowl at my best. Having played with Virat Kohli in RCB, we’ve built a strong bond. For fast bowlers, aggression is crucial — and honestly, Virat brings more aggression on the field than most bowlers.”
Siraj, who made his international debut for India in 2017 under Virat Kohli captaincy, also spent several years playing alongside him in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) camp in the Indian Premier League.
“I’ve learned to draw energy from the crowd, just like Virat does,” said Mohammed Siraj while reflecting on how he lifted the Indian team’s morale during the recent Oval Test against England.
Chasing 374 runs, England looked in control as Joe Root and Harry Brook struck brilliant centuries to bring their side close to victory. Siraj recalled, “At that stage, when Root and Brook were building a strong partnership, our shoulders began to drop a little. But I reminded everyone to stay upbeat and used the crowd’s energy to fire us up. That’s something I’ve picked up from Virat—the roar of the crowd can make a huge difference for a bowler, giving you that extra spark of confidence.”
His words matched his actions. Siraj went on to produce a match-winning spell, claiming a five-wicket haul to bowl England out for 367—securing a thrilling six-run victory for India.
