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India's ace pacer Mohammed Siraj spoke candidly about the challenges he encountered while bowling on the Delhi pitch during the second Test match against the West Indies. India ultimately won that match by seven wickets, but Siraj, who finished the series as the second-highest wicket-taker, highlighted the difficulties the surface presented to the bowlers.
Mohammed Siraj after winning the Impact Player of the Series medal
Siraj said that every wicket he managed to take during the second Test at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi felt like a monumental five-wicket haul. Siraj ultimately secured three wickets across his 24 overs during the match, a reflection of the hard toil India's bowlers endured as the West Indies batters put up stubborn resistance in their second innings.
Siraj bagged ten wickets from four innings at an impressive average of 13. His standout performance earned him the Impact Player of the Series medal. While accepting the award, Siraj candidly admitted he had to work incredibly hard for each breakthrough.
"To be honest this series went very well. When we played in Ahmedabad, there was some help for the fast bowlers. In New Delhi, we had to bowl a lot of overs. Every wicket (that I took) felt like five wickets. I feel very proud as a person after any achievement. I will try to continue with such performances because Test cricket is my favourite format," Siraj said in a video shared by the BCCI.
Furthermore, the 31-year-old also took the opportunity to speak openly about the intense mental and physical challenges that are an inherent part of competing in Test cricket.
"There are so many challenges in it, you have to be on the field the whole day and you have to do it physically and mentally. It's very different but it also makes me feel proud and have fun. As a fast bowler, when you get rewarded after putting in the efforts you gain a lot of confidence and you also feel happy after winning the Impact Player award in the dressing room," Siraj further stated.
Not just against West Indies, Siraj hogged the limelight in the England series too, which India managed to draw 2-2. He emerged as the highest wicket-taker of that series, scalping an impressive 23 scalps from nine innings. His career-best performance came during the fifth Test at The Oval, where he registered figures of 9/190.
Siraj will next be seen in the Test series against South Africa, which will be played from November 14.
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