ENG vs IND 2025: 'I love the spring in Mohammed Siraj's steps' - Sachin Tendulkar analyses Indian star's performance versus England

Mohammed Siraj finished as the highest wicket-taker in the recently-concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. He played all five Test matches and finished with 23 wickets at an average of 32.43. His five-for in the final Test at The Oval helped India register a thrilling six-run win. The relatively inexperienced Shubman Gill-led side drew the series 2-2 against a strong England unit.

Siraj has been earning rich praise from experts and fans for his magnificent show of grit and determination during the pulsating Test series. The legendary Sachin Tendulkar joined the list of experts lauding Siraj for his exemplary outings against Ben Stokes and Co.

Tendulkar applauded Siraj's attitude and approach, saying that he keeps coming at the batters irrespective of the match situation. The Master Blaster also said that if the in-form Joe Root is given an option to choose either Siraj or someone who bowls his overs quietly, the former England captain will opt for the latter.

"Unbelievable. Superb approach. I love his attitude. I love the spring in his steps. If you don't look at the scoreboard and just see his body language, you will not be able to make out if he has taken five wickets or none at all. Body language is same. Attitude and approach are the same. So a fast bowler is constantly in your face like that. No batter likes it. If you ask Joe Root, who is a world-class batter and scored so many runs, would he like to face Siraj or will he prefer someone else who is bowling to him quietly, he will opt for the latter. Because Siraj is always at your face. He will do something or the other. So that is what Siraj is all about," Tendulkar said while analysing the Hyderabad pacer's performance.

Tendulkar was also impressed by Siraj's ability to bowl at 90 mph on the last day of the series, even after bowling more than 1000 balls in the series.

"He has bowled over 1000 deliveries in the series and his approach even on the last day. I could hear the commentators saying that he clocked 90 mph in the last few deliveries on the final day of the fifth Test. So when a fast bowler bowls 1000-plus deliveries in a series and still clocks 90 mph in the end stages, that shows how big a heart he has," he added.4

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Tendulkar also mentioned some of the setbacks for Siraj in the series like when he was unfortunately dismissed in the closing moments of the Lord's Test and when he dropped Harry Brook on Day 4 of the Oval Test. The former India captain said that he had the belief that Siraj would finish the series strongly.