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According to Siraj, he has learnt from Virat Kohli to treat opponents like enemies on the field and friends off it.
Mohammed Siraj makes big reveal about Virat Kohli. (Picture Credit: AFP)
Mohammed Siraj is one of India’s premier pacers, at least in the five-day format of the game. The 31-year-old fast bowler from Hyderabad played all five matches in the 2024-25 edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy as well as in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Siraj accounted for the dismissal of 20 batters in Australia and picked up 23 wickets in the England series. His super show with the ball in the Birmingham and Oval Tests helped India secure famous wins over England and level the series 2-2.
In the recently concluded series between India and England, Siraj, apart from his bowling, also made headlines for his aggression. He got involved in multiple verbal battles with Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Duckett during the series.
When asked about the reason behind this energy during his recent interaction with RevSportz, Siraj said that he learnt this from Virat Kohli, who taught him to treat opponents like enemies on the field and friends off it.
“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 told RevSportz.
“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,” Siraj added.
“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 added.
In the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Siraj dismissed a total of nine English batters. He picked up four wickets in the first innings and five in the second.
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