Mohammed Siraj ended the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 as leading wicket-taker.
When India toured England for a five-match Test series, Akash Deep was far from India’s pace attack that was going to start the series. But with pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah missing the Edgbaston Test, Akash Deep was given a chance. And a boy from Bihar rocked the stage at Birmingham, taking a record-breaking 10-wicket match haul, his first. His spell truly set up India’s historic first Test win at Edgbaston. His heroics helped him to retain his place in the squad after Bumrah’s return. But an injury ruled him out of the fourth Test before the Bengal pacer played a crucial 66-run knock in the second innings of the series decider Test at The Oval. His knock proved to be a major difference as India scripted history by winning the Test by their narrowest margin of runs.
Speaking to RevSportz, Akash Deep revealed how Mohammed Siraj put confidence in the team, paving the way to level the series 2-2. Akash Deep also reflected on the atmosphere in the dressing room on the final day of the Oval Test.
AUSA-W
144/8
INDA-W
140/8
KNK
171/10
VSS
195/5
Vijayawada Sunshiners beat Kakinada Kings by 24 runs
BVB
141/3
ROR
139/10
Bhimavaram Bulls beat Royals of Rayalaseema by 7 wickets
AMR
–
TBW
–
SVL
–
KNK
–
PD
152/10
NDS
179/8
North Delhi Strikers won by 27 runs
WDL
156/7
EDR
158/8
East Delhi Riders beat West Delhi Lions by 2 runs
SDS
–
NDT
–
NDS
–
WDL
–
CRO
111/4
CYP
134/4
Cyprus beat Croatia by 23 runs
CRO
103/4
CYP
102/8
Croatia beat Cyprus by 6 wickets
CRO
107/4
CYP
110/2
Cyprus won by 8 wickets
ZGW
–
ZAS
–
ZAS
–
RJM
–
ZGW
–
ZGA
–
ZAS
–
RJM
–
ZGW
–
ZGA
–
KENT
238/8
DURH
239/3
Durham beat Kent by 7 wickets
SOM
250/7
LAN
254/8
Lancashire beat Somerset by 2 wickets
MID
256/5
SUSS
255/9
Middlesex beat Sussex by 5 wickets
DER
341/8
NOT
214/10
Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire by 127 runs
BB
291/8
NOR
229/10
Birmingham Bears won by 62 runs
GLO
182/3
LEI
285/7
ESS
280/10
WOR
340/9
Worcestershire beat Essex by 60 runs
91YC
70/9
BCC
20/0
Bud Cricket Club beat 91 Yards Club by 10 wickets (D/L) method
NAJC
119/10
GUG
121/7
Guwahati Giants beat Nabajyoti Club by 3 wickets
CCC
–
91YC
–
NVR
–
GUG
–
TCC
117/8
SBSCC
–
NCMI
–
PCR
–
CEC-A
–
RTZ
–
KRMPS
–
GUJCC
–
JOR
47/10
PRK
49/5
Perak beat Johor by 5 wickets
MEL
107/8
PENG
111/4
Penang beat Melaka by 6 wickets
SEL
76/1
KLPR
141/1
Selangor beat Kuala Lumpur by 9 wickets (D/L) method
GBM
–
MGD
–
BNB
–
MYW
–
MWW
96/7
HTW
107/10
Hubli Tigers Women beat Mysore Warriors Women by 11 runs
NPB
196/4
EAE
144/10
NPL Bears beat Eavion Eagles by 52 runs
PAJ
173/8
PMW
197/6
Pupkewitz Motors Wildcats beat Paratus Jets by 24 runs
IRE-W
–
PAK-W
–
WI
–
PAK
31/0
SLGY
163/6
SLGR
165/5
SLC Greens won by 5 wickets
SLGR
–
SLBL
–
AUS
178/10
SA
161/9
Australia beat South Africa by 17 runs
SOB
109/1
BIP
106/7
Southern Brave won by 9 wickets
TRR
–
NOS
81/4
MAO
–
LOS
–
SBW-W
139/7
BIP-W
124/10
Southern Brave Women beat Birmingham Phoenix Women by 15 runs
TRW-W
128/8
NOS-W
129/2
Northern Superchargers Women beat Trent Rockets Women by 8 wickets
MOW-W
–
LSW-W
–
SWE
152/7
FRA
153/8
France beat Sweden by 2 wickets
AUST
106/2
NOR
105/10
Austria won by 8 wickets
“Given how much I have seen him play, I cannot say this was the best, but he definitely had a different mindset. He wanted us to keep believing that we were going to do it. He gave us constant confidence that we would take wickets. In Test matches sometimes, the confidence goes down because we cannot apply T20 tactics, but Siraj kept showing us a positive, confident body language even in those times when the way forward was unknown,” he added.
Mohammed Siraj, who led India’s bowling attack in the debut Test series, led India to two historic wins. Siraj not only picked the most wickets (23) in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 but also toiled and ground hard for it. The right-arm pacer bowled the most overs (185.3) in the five-match series and was one of the two bowlers to play all Tests. Siraj was the man who truly brought India back in the fifth Test, but not before crossing the boundary line after taking a catch of Harry Brook, who eventually scored a century. The Hyderabad pacer took a five-for, with three of those coming on the final day.
“Playing continuously for five Test matches and so much effort till the last match is commendable, and everyone has witnessed that. So much effort was bound to bring a positive result,” said Akash Deep about his bowling partner, Mohammed Siraj.
“It was intense, and there was pressure. But I guess that pressure made us aggressive, and the game turned out to be good for us. The pressure helped us focus and notice what was going on better. The crowd played a big part in the evening, as it changed – cheering for us after cheering for England before that. After playing for so long, the body was very tired, but the crowd’s energy gave us a lot of enthusiasm,” said the 28-year-old.
England were cruising towards the 374-run target, with them firmly placed at 301/3 with a day still left in the Test match. With Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, and Gus Atkinson, who has a hundred in Test cricket, still to bat, England were favourites to win.
Akash Deep provided a much-needed breakthrough, dismissing centurion Harry Brook, followed by two quick wickets before the stumps on Day 3. England needed just 35 runs on the final day, while India required four wickets. Siraj then produced an inspiring burst that saw England collapse on the final day. India eventually pulled off a jaw-dropping heist at The Oval, winning by six runs and levelling the five-match series 2-2.
ALSO READ
There were numerous questions on how the young Indian side will perform in England, especially after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s Test retirements. Captain Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir faced huge criticism after the first Test, where they suffered a loss despite five individual hundreds. But the Indian team bounced back nicely and recorded two historic wins, had a miraculous escape at Lords, and suffered a defeat where they showcased incredible fight but lost by just 22 runs.
“Very good. He is very calm and composed and understands stuff, so it’s fun to be with him as a captain. First tour with a new captain could have been tough, but it didn’t feel anything like that with him,” said the 28-year-old. “It feels very good and comfortable to be in the Indian dressing room with these people, and it gives me a sense of pride. It might look like a pressure-filled atmosphere from outside, but once you are inside that change room, the atmosphere is very good.”
India will not have any kind of international cricket for a month, till the Asia Cup 2025. However, the Duleep Trophy is scheduled to start later this month; players will get a sigh of relief for a few days before getting into the action again. India will play their next Test match against South Africa at home, starting November 14.
For more updates, follow CricXtasy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Telegram, and YouTube.
Australia A Women beat India A Women by 4 runs