![[Watch] Mohammed Siraj Bowled Rehan Ahmed And James Anderson With Missile Yorkers](https://thecricketlounge.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Siraj.webp)
Mohammed Siraj returned with a four-wicket haul in England’s first innings of the Rajkot Test and showed his growth as a bowler after getting a hammering on the evening of Day 2.
In the absence of R Ashwin – who has left Rajkot in the middle of the Test match because of a medical emergency in his family – India needed their bowlers to step up their game, more so after the rampant century from Ben Duckett had put England slightly on top by stumps yesterday.
The four bowlers – Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, and Mohammed Siraj – collectively produced a brilliant session and a half to force England into collapsing from 224/2 to 319 all-out, which meant India took a handy lead of 126 runs.
Mohammed Siraj, who had taken the wicket of Ollie Pope on Day 2 but conceded 54 runs in 10 overs, prized out the crucial wicket of Ben Foakes today before running through the tail, castling Rehan Ahmed and James Anderson with brilliant deliveries.
He was fired up and bowled with pace – that coupled with the movement in the air made it impossible for Rehan and Anderson to keep his yorkers and full balls out, resulting in two glorious bowled dismissals.
To Rehan, Mohammed Siraj bowled an unplayable inswinging yorker that kissed away the off-stump and the bail dropped. To Anderson, from around the wicket, Siraj’s full ball outside off kept coming in and beat Anderson on the outside edge to hit the stumps. The wicket of Anderson – bowled from around the wicket angle – was reminiscent of a very similar dismissal at Lord’s in 2021.
Watch: Mohammed Siraj yorked Rehan Ahmed and James Anderson
What A Ball From Mohammed Siraj.🔥🇮🇳#MohammedSiraj #INDvENG #INDvsENG #WTC25
— The Cricket TV (@thecrickettvX) February 17, 2024
India, in reply, lost Rohit Sharma early, the captain managing only 19 runs. India already have a lead of over 180 with Jaiswal and Gill batting. With Ashwin unavailable, India need to post a huge target for England as plenty of time is left in the game.