Boria Majumdar in London
Miracles rarely happen. But when it happens you just want to soak it all in and be there in the moment. Today we witnessed something historic and every Indian cricket fan will forever remember it as part of lore.
The truth is the team believed. And they believed more than England. When Jamie Smith walked out, he did not look the part. He seemed nervous. On the other hand, Mohammed Siraj looked like a man possessed. He wanted to do it for India. He did not want Lord’s to be the memory to take back. Nor did he want to go back with the Harry Brook catch. He wanted to lead, take it by the lapels and do it for his team. That’s what it is all about. That’s how leaders do. He is the new leader of the Indian attack and the new pin-up boy. Siraj has emerged from Jasprit Bumrah’s shadow and is the new star.
Each wicket was a cinema. Smith started it as he advanced down the track and edged a perfect outswinger to Dhruv Jurel. India believed and so did Siraj. Shubman Gill’s reaction summed it up. The skipper was in it and knew that it was possible. And Siraj knew that the job wasn’t finished yet. He needed more and he kept coming.
The next was Jamie Overton. Multiple plays and misses and then the dreaded umpire’s call. It went against Siraj multiple times, but the cricket gods couldn’t be as cruel as to deny him today. Kumar Dharmasena thought about it and put his finger up. India had their eighth and were close.
Then it was Prasidh Krishna, as he cleaned up Josh Tongue and India were within sniffing distance. Each one had an eye on the English change room and we witnessed something incredible as Chris Woakes in real pain walked out. Rishabh Pant and Woakes have elevated the series and made it something beyond sport. They have shown what human beings can do and have enriched the sport.
Gus Atkinson tried but then it had to be Siraj. He knocked him over and all of India had found a voice. A collective scream and it was celebration time. For Siraj it was redemption. He can’t be the tragic hero all the time. The reality is he is the hero. An unlikely hero. The image of India that I want to see. My India and one of my dreams. This is what sport does. Makes you feel something special. And we have to say thanks to Siraj and the team for giving us the moment. The series is done. But the truth is it will forever be real. For each one of us.
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