Siraj's secret weapon? 'Believe' emoji wallpaper behind India's final test triumph

London: Mohammed Siraj's unwavering belief in his ability to win matches for India from any situation proved pivotal in the final Test against England. "I woke up in the morning and checked Google on my phone and took out a 'Believe' emoji wallpaper and told myself that I will do it for the country," Siraj revealed in a post-match interview with Dinesh Karthik for Jio Hotstar.

Despite the absence of bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, the Telangana Police DSP shouldered immense responsibility throughout the series, bowling 185.3 overs and claiming 23 wickets. His stellar performance in the final Test, where he picked up 5 wickets for 104 runs in 30.1 overs and a total of nine wickets in the match, was instrumental in securing a win that will be remembered for posterity.

Siraj emphasised his simple strategy: "My only plan was to bowl good areas. Didn't matter if I took wickets or went for runs." He also recalled a crucial moment when he almost caught Harry Brook (who was 19 at the time), but his foot touched the boundary rope, allowing Brook to score a century that momentarily shifted the game. "I didn't think I'd touch the cushion when I took it. It was a match-changing moment. Brook got into the T20 moment. We were behind the game after that, but thank God. I thought the match was gone," Siraj confessed, highlighting his relief and determination to bounce back.

With inputs from PTI