Edgbaston: India may seem to have lost the initiative in the rescheduled fifth Test against England here but two key performers in the side, Rishabh Pant and pace bowler Mohammed Siraj, have been outstanding in the high-stakes game. While Pant's 146 off 111 deliveries will be remembered for years to come, the 28-year-old Siraj may have further cemented his place in the India Test squad after his four-wicket haul in the first innings.
Siraj's brother Ismail has revealed about the pace bowler's evolution over the last two years, saying that, at times, he himself is "shocked" to see the aggression in the cricketer's eyes. "Jo aggression uski aankon mei hota hai, kabhi kabhi hum log bhi ghar pe shock ho jate hain (Sometimes, we at home are shocked by the aggression in his eyes). Whenever he hears Arabi Marfa on the streets, he automatically starts dancing. Doesn't matter who's getting married," said Ismail on royalchallengers.com.
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Ismail is not the only one who has spoken about Siraj's aggression in recent times. Legendary cricketers such as Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting and Virat Kohli have been appreciative of the kind of infectious energy that Siraj brings to the table. After India secured a win against England at Lord's last year, with Siraj playing a pivotal role, the then-India skipper Kohli had said, "This is exactly who he is. He's going to be the kind of bowler who is aggressive, who is in your face and who is looking to get guys out. He is not scared and he is not going to take a backward step."