How Cristiano Ronaldo wallpaper fuelled Mohammed Siraj's Oval Test heroics
'This morning when I woke up, I searched for this emoji — 'Believe' with Cristiano Ronaldo. I knew I could do something special. Normally, I wake up at 8, but today I got up at 6am. From that moment, I believed I could do it. I made it my wallpaper. Belief is very important,' Siraj said.Fittingly, Siraj struck the first blow of the day by dismissing Jamie Smith, and then sealed India's win with a searing yorker that bowled all-rounder Gus Atkinson. Chris Woakes, who bravely walked out to bat left-handed despite a dislocated shoulder, was left stranded as England were bowled out for 367 in their chase of 374.Just a day earlier, India had looked all but beaten. During the second session on Day 4, England were cruising thanks to a 195-run stand between Harry Brook and Joe Root. Ironically, Siraj himself had dropped Brook on 19 — a costly miss that seemed destined to haunt India. The World No. 1 Test batter made them pay, hammering 111 off just 90 balls before falling to the final delivery before tea.At that point, England were 301 for 3, and victory looked inevitable. Root went on to bring up his 39th Test hundred, and an English win seemed only a matter of time.However, India staged a spirited comeback late on Day 4, with Prasidh Krishna claiming two wickets before rain cut the session short. When play resumed on Day 5, India came out firing — their energy renewed — and made life extremely difficult for the hosts, wrapping up the match in just 53 deliveries.advertisementReflecting on the turnaround, Siraj emphasised the power of belief, even in moments when defeat seemed certain.'I've worked hard on my game. I never think ill of anyone. Being selected out of 1.4 billion people is a huge thing. You're representing your entire country. Today, there are smiles on the faces of 1.4 billion people. I want to be honest about my game and believe in my ability. That's important as a professional cricketer,' he said.Siraj finished the series with 23 wickets — the highest by any bowler in the five-Test series. The fast bowler delivered 185.3 overs in total, pushing through pain but never relenting.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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6 minutes ago
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