'Wasn’t Mohammed Siraj’s absolute best': Akash Deep’s shocking take on pacer’s Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heroics

Indian fast bowler Akash Deep has opened up about Mohammed Siraj’s performance in the recent Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England. Mohammed Siraj delivered a breathtaking performance in the fifth and final Test to help India beat England by six runs at the Oval.

The fiery Indian fast bowler finished the match with nine wickets and was adjudged Player of the Match for his match-winning efforts at The Oval, as the tourists leveled the five-match Test series in England. Siraj finished as the leading wicket-taker in the five-match Test series with 23 wickets.

Akash Deep hails Mohammed Siraj’s performance in England

The Hyderabad bowler was outstanding throughout the Test series and delivered even when Jasprit Bumrah was rested due to his workload management. He impressed with his ability to move the ball and maintain pressure on the English batsmen, even on flat pitches.

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He took on a huge responsibility by bowling over 185 overs in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, but Akash Deep believes that Siraj’s efforts in England were not his absolute best. Akash hailed Siraj’s strong mindset and leadership during the Test series.

Akash Deep was quoted as saying by RevSportz, “He is different. If you put in that kind of effort, the result will definitely come. As far as I have been with the team, I would not say this was Siraj's absolute best. But Siraj's mindset in this series was different, because he was always talking to us, always telling us to keep believing. He kept saying, 'We have to do this, we have to do this, we have to keep believing; the three of us have to do this.'”

How Mohammed Siraj inspired Indian bowlers in challenging phases in England

Deep said that Mohammed Siraj’s confidence helped the other Indian bowlers keep pushing, as he kept reminding them to bowl in the right areas and trust the process, which helped the team maintain their fighting spirit throughout the five-match Test series in England.

He added, “Sometimes, the way that they bat, where they step out and hit you here and there, the confidence gets hit. It's not like T20, where I can bowl a yorker or a slower one. Sometimes doubts start creeping in as to what can be done. But even in those phases, he was saying, 'We have to keep bowling in good areas. It is a good ball; let them hit. They will be out that way'.”

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Wasim Akram says Mohammed Siraj is no longer just Jasprit Bumrah’s support

Recently, Pakistan’s fast bowling legend Wasim Akram said that Siraj has grown beyond being just a backup bowler to Jasprit Bumrah. Akram said that Siraj can now lead India’s fast bowling attack in Test cricket.

Wasim Akram was quoted as saying by Telecom Asia Sport: “Siraj was full of hunger and passion—it was an incredible effort."