Former South African quick Dale Steyn made a daring prediction ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy’s fifth and final Test, predicting Mohammed Siraj to take five wickets. On July 30, 2025, Steyn took to social media to support Siraj’s ability to rise in a vital circumstance, and the Indian bowler did just that, taking up a key fifer at The Oval to help India tie the series 2-2.
Siraj was on fire throughout the encounter. In the first innings, he struck early and frequently, taking vital wickets from Joe Root, Ollie Pope, Harry Brook, and Jacob Bethell to finish with four wickets. With India setting England a goal of 374 runs in the third innings, the hosts fought courageously but were eventually bowled out for 367, giving India a dramatic six-run triumph, the smallest margin of runs in India’s Test history.
Check Dale Steyn’s post from July 30 here
Siraj to take a fifer in 5th Test.
— Dale Steyn (@DaleSteyn62) July 30, 2025
Siraj’s second-inning heroics began with his dismissal of Zak Crawley on the penultimate ball of Day 3. He followed that up by removing stand-in skipper for his second wicket of the game. With England needing 35 runs and India needing four wickets on the final day, the pressure was on.
Jamie Overton ignited English hopes with back-to-back boundaries to begin the day, but Siraj turned the game around by dismissing Jamie Smith and Overton in quick succession. As the match approached its conclusion, Gus Atkinson hit a six, reducing the deficit to 11 runs, and then to seven runs, as Chris Woakes bravely stepped out to bat with a sling on his left arm. But Siraj had the final word, firing a superb yorker that crashed into the off stump, dismissing Atkinson and sealing India’s famous victory.
Siraj finished with nine wickets in the match, and with that performance, he also emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the series, claiming 23 wickets overall in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. With Jasprit Bumrah rested for the final Test, Siraj stepped up magnificently, playing a crucial role in India’s series-levelling victory.
