India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj expresses heartbreak over India’s narrow 22-run loss to England at Lord’s but vows to bounce back in the crucial fourth Test. With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy on the line, Siraj remains defiant, emphasizing unfinished business and renewed focus heading into Old Trafford.
With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy delicately poised, Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has opened up about his emotional reaction to the heartbreaking 22-run loss at Lord’s during the third Test against England. As India prepares for the must-win fourth Test starting July 23 at Old Trafford, Siraj admitted that the defeat still weighs heavily on him.
In the dramatic final session of Day 5 at Lord’s, Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja appeared to be steering India towards a memorable victory. However, hopes were dashed when Siraj’s defensive shot off Shoaib Bashir accidentally rolled back onto the stumps, dislodging the bails and ending the spirited chase.
“I had taken the final wicket in 2021 as well. I am a very emotional person; it could have been 2-1,” said Siraj in a pre-match press conference. “Jaddu bhai fought very hard. But then I said to myself that the series is not over and I will work on my batting.”
Siraj revealed that the Indian tailenders have been putting in considerable effort to improve their batting since their tour of Australia, a crucial shift in strategy meant to give India more depth and resilience in tight matches.
“The 22-run loss was heartbreaking. To middle the ball and still get bowled — it was just unlucky. The way we were batting together, I was feeling confident and thought I will not get out today. But it happened, and the result could have been entirely different,” Siraj added.
The Lord’s defeat not only tilted the momentum in England’s favour but also brought a fiery edge to the ongoing series. On Day 3, tensions flared between Shubman Gill and Zak Crawley, igniting the competitive spirit on both sides. Siraj, known for his aggression and energy, was seen sledging English batters in an attempt to break their rhythm.
Addressing his animated presence on the field, Siraj explained, “There are no plans regarding this. When you are bowling, you are in another zone; your focus is on taking wickets, so you don’t know what you say. You want to divert the batter — like when I asked Root, ‘Where is the Bazball?'”
His bold confrontation of England’s much-touted ‘Bazball’ approach — an aggressive brand of Test cricket under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes — underscores Siraj’s combative mindset. He confirmed that his confrontational style isn’t going anywhere. When asked if he’ll maintain this aggressive stance in the upcoming matches, Siraj replied with a firm, “Yes.”
With the series currently level at 1-1, the fourth Test at Old Trafford becomes pivotal for India’s hopes of clinching their first Test series win on English soil in 18 years. The narrow loss at Lord’s has now become both a sore memory and a motivational tool for the visitors.
Head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma are expected to rally the team with renewed focus on both batting depth and bowling discipline. While India’s top order continues to be scrutinized, the resilience shown by the lower order — especially Jadeja and Siraj — offers a silver lining.
England, meanwhile, are riding high on their comeback victory and are likely to retain the same aggressive formula. But with Siraj and the Indian bowling unit hungry for redemption, the Old Trafford Test promises another high-voltage clash.
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As fans await the decisive encounter, one thing is clear — Siraj and Team India are not ready to back down. The series is far from over, and the fire is well and truly burning.
