“The Thing That I Learnt…”: Mohammed Siraj Credits Virat Kohli For Instilling Aggression In His Game

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Cric News India

August 26, 2025 0 180

Mohammed Siraj Learnt fighting spirit from Kohli

Mohammed Siraj credited Virat Kohli for shaping his aggressive approach during India’s recent Test series against England.

Mohammed Siraj has established himself as one of India’s premier pacers in the five-day format. The 31-year-old fast bowler from Hyderabad featured in all five matches of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. He finished with 20 wickets in Australia and 23 scalps in England, playing a key role in India’s famous wins at Birmingham and The Oval that helped level the series 2-2.

Siraj’s fiery performances were not limited to the ball alone. During the England series, his aggression caught equal attention as he engaged in verbal duels with Joe Root, Harry Brook, and Ben Duckett.

When asked about the reason behind this energy in a recent interaction with RevSportz, Siraj credited Virat Kohli. “I’ve learnt this one particular thing from Virat Kohli, and that is his fighting approach in the game. Off the field, he would be talking very nicely, but on the ground, the opposition is the enemy for him. I like this thing about him. And my bowling comes from aggression,” Siraj said.

He further added: “If I do not show that on the ground, I won’t be able to bowl well. I have been with Virat Kohli in RCB (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) and have had a good bonding with him. Fast bowlers should have aggression on the field, and Virat Kohli has more aggression on the field than bowlers.”

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Reflecting on India’s comeback at The Oval, Siraj recalled: “In that last Test at The Oval, when Brook and Root were having a good partnership, we had a bit of a shoulder-dropping moment. But then, I encouraged everyone, and we went ahead to get the upper hand in the form of the wicket of Root. I have also learnt to take crowd support from Virat. Support of the crowd, for a bowler, can make a big difference and get the bowler flying with confidence.”

Siraj was India’s match-winner in the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, where he dismissed nine English batters. He picked up four wickets in the first innings and followed it up with a five-wicket haul in the second, sealing a memorable win for India.