Mohammed Siraj Breaks Silence After Lord's Heartbreak and Concentrates on What's Next

Mohammed Siraj has finally broken his silence over what went down in that agonizing final session at Lord's. For most fans it was a moment that they would struggle to forget and for Siraj it was one that he took time to digest. What appeared to be a lost Test match gradually became a game of hope and belief and when it seemed as if a miracle could be achieved India's dreams were cut short in the most painful possible manner. Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja had established a good partnership for the last wicket and they batted incredibly hard for more than an hour. Siraj lasted 29 balls and remained in the crease for 64 minutes providing India with a genuine opportunity to achieve something special. But fate had other things in store and a decent forward defence against Shoaib Bashir brought an end to his innings as the ball somehow reversed.
In that instant the hush at Lord's was louder than any applause. Siraj went down on his haunches bat in hand visibly broken. That picture of him is now the most iconic and emotional photograph of the series. It captured the struggle the agony the struggle and the very narrow margin between victory and defeat. Referring to that moment Siraj explained that the manner in which he was batting with Jadeja he felt on top of his game and in control. He explained that it did not seem like he could escape unless he committed an obvious error. But even after middling the ball it was merely bad luck and he referred to it as one of the saddest moments of his career.

He also told that at one stage it seemed like India would lose the match by a large margin of 80 runs but they battled their way through and even crossed the Tea break and that made the narrow defeat hurt all the more. As per everyone if they had lost by a huge margin it would have been more digestible but reaching this close and then losing made it difficult to swallow. But Siraj assured that he kept reminding himself that the series is still ongoing and there are two remaining Test matches to play. He added that the rest of the matches will be enjoyable and he is set to give his best once again.

This talent for resetting and moving ahead is what characterizes Siraj as a cricketer. As a quick bowler he realizes that work and performance do not always lead to wickets. That experience has remained with him ever since the tour and it keeps him grounded during difficult moments. His exemplary spell at Edgbaston when he took six wickets was a reward but at Lord's despite bowling very well particularly against Joe Root he did not get the rewards he deserved. On one occasion an Umpire's Call denied him a key wicket and that can be very frustrating for a bowler.

Siraj conceded that he has been bowling very well but luck has not always been kind to him. He described that as a bowler you would always desire wickets whenever you have a good game but you should remain patient and keep trusting that reward would come, sooner or later. He told that he reminds himself that if not in this match then perhaps in the next one. He went on to say that he does believe in a higher being who has gotten him thus far and will see him further.

In spite of these setbacks Siraj is still composed and does not allow it to impact his strategy. He said that one can easily lose concentration or begin to alter strategies in frustration but that leads to further deterioration. For him the most important thing is to be simple and continue bowling in the right spots. He added that even if he fails to take the wickets himself his pressure can advantageously get on the minds of the other bowlers from the other end. Therefore he does not let his mind drift and rather concentrates on being consistent.

While most of the discussion regarding fast bowling workload in the ongoing series has revolved around Jasprit Bumrah Siraj has quietly borne a heavy burden himself. He has featured in 24 of India's past 27 Tests and already bowled more than 100 overs in this series alone. Yet there are no grumblings from him. On the contrary, he is full of gratitude and belief. He expressed that he is grateful to remain healthy and it is his good fortune to continue to play for the nation. For him the number of overs isn't a responsibility it is just another opportunity to do something special.

He expressed that although the statistics might indicate how many overs he has bowled, he does not consider it tedious work. To him it is always a matter of doing his best for the team. He went on to say that he wants to play as many games as he can and always deliver his all. He explained that at the end of the day he would want to sleep peacefully knowing he gave everything he had out there on the pitch irrespective of the results.

Mohammed Siraj's journey till now has been one of highs and lows and the recent experience at Lord's is yet another page in that book. His words are spoken from the heart full of deep emotions but also immense maturity and mental fortitude. He remains steadfast in his thoughts regarding the future, believing in the hard work and trusting the process. With or without the ball Siraj's heart and love for the game are evident. Even when luck is not on his side he never loses hope and that is what makes him such a great asset for Team India. With more matches still to be played and still lots of fight left within him the fans can look forward to seeing Siraj bounce back stronger than ever.