'Got a lot of confidence from...': Mohammed Siraj shares big statement after picking up 4 wickets vs West Indies on Day 1

India pacer Mohammed Siraj shared that the five-match Test series against England proved to be a major confidence booster for him following his fiery 4-fer against West Indies. Notably, the 31-year-old was the highest wicket-taker of the England assignment and took a total of 23 scalps in what was a great series for him.

After his brilliant bowling spell massively helped India in bundling out the visitors for just 162 runs in their first innings, Siraj highlighted how important the England tour was for him and how it helped in making him a more confident bowler.

"It was a very competitive series in England, and I got a lot of confidence from it. To perform against a strong side gives a different kind of confidence and I felt it today as well," Siraj told reporters after the end of day's play.

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Siraj further remarked that he had to work incredibly hard to take four wickets against the West Indies during Day 1 and added that it wasn't like any batter threw his wicket away to him.

"I had to work hard for these 4 wickets as well. Even in England, I had to work hard. It is not the case that you can get wickets just like that. No one gave me the fifth wicket (today), I had to take all 4 with hard work," Siraj stated.

Indian bowlers shine on Day 1

Meanwhile, both Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah took a combined total of seven wickets among them as the West Indies batters failed to find answers to them in overcast conditions at the Narendra Modi stadium. Siraj was the one to take the first wicket of the match and it came in the form of Tagenarine Chanderpaul, who departed for an 11-ball duck. He then picked up the wicket of Brandon King for 13 before dismissing Alick Athanaze for 12 in his very next over. The 31-year-old's final scalp of the innings was West Indies skipper Roston Chase, who got dismissed for 24 runs.

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In reply, India made a solid start to their innings as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul formed a valiant partnership of 68 runs. However, Jaiswal would go on to lose his wicket to Jayden Seales for 36 runs in the 19th over. Soon after, Sai Sudharsan got dismissed by Chase for 7 as the Windies looked to be back in the game. However, the Men in Blue went on to finish the day on a strong note thanks to KL Rahul's unbeaten knock of 53. Alongside him, skipper Shubman Gill also remained unbeaten on 18 as India wrapped up Day 1 on 121/2, trailing their opponents by just 41 runs.