Daijiworld Media Network - Birmingham

Birmingham, Jul 5: India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj delivered a match-defining performance at Edgbaston, grabbing 6 for 70 in the second Test against England. His brilliant spell helped India fight back strongly after England threatened to take control with a massive 303-run stand between Harry Brook (158) and *Jamie Smith (184)**.

Siraj, visibly emotional after the performance, said on JioHotstar, “This feeling is unbelievable. I’ve been waiting for a moment like this for more than a year. I’ve bowled well throughout, but the wickets just didn’t come. Even today, the morning session felt good, but nothing was happening—so getting these six wickets feels really special.”

England, who had slumped to 84/5, recovered through the Brook-Smith partnership to post a formidable 407. However, once Akash Deep broke the stand by bowling Brook, Siraj tore through the tail, removing Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir in quick succession. Earlier, he had already removed Joe Root (22) and Ben Stokes on consecutive deliveries to dent England’s top order. On Day 2, he had dismissed opener Zak Crawley for 19.

Despite the Edgbaston pitch offering little assistance, Siraj said he thrived under pressure. “The conditions weren’t ideal—the pitch was slow. But I knew I had a role to play. I haven’t featured in too many recent matches, but experience teaches you not to try too hard. Just keep hitting the right areas, and the pressure builds. I’ve played 38 Tests now, and my goal was to bring that sense of stability.”

He credited India’s mammoth first-innings total of 587 for allowing him to bowl with clarity. “When the scoreboard shows 600, there’s no need to go hunting. Just bowl your lines. I enjoy pressure, I thrive on responsibility. I’ve faced many challenges in life, and I feel I perform best when there’s a weight on my shoulders,” he added.

At stumps on Day 3, India extended their lead to 244 runs, reaching 64/1 in their second innings. While Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for 28, KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 28, with Karun Nair at the crease on 7 not out. India are now firmly in command as they eye a strong position heading into Day 4.