Mohammed Siraj became a national hero for India after his sensational bowling spell on the final day of the Oval Test, defending 35 runs under overcast conditions. Delivering a fiery 5/101, Siraj sealed a famous win to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 at 2-2, a spell that will be remembered for years to come.
Miyan's career graph had frequently hit lows, and his performances often went unrecognized due to inconsistent bowling in both white and red-ball cricket. However, he worked hard and made several sacrifices on his journey to glory. One of the most notable examples of this sacrifice was his decision to stop eating biryani for the sake of his country.
The Biryani Sacrifice: Siraj’s Fitness Journey Inspired by Kohli
Mo Siraj, born and brought up in the land of biryani, Hyderabad, sacrificed one of his favorite foods to maintain his fitness and perform effectively in the longer formats.
According to The Times of India (TOI), Siraj stopped eating biryani in 2019 and now has it only as an occasional cheat meal.
“I have stopped eating biryani. It has become a cheat meal for me now... To be honest, if you want to represent your country, you have to quit a few things," Siraj told TOI after a Hyderabad nets session.
Also read: IND vs ENG 2025: “England Boys Call Him ...” - Nasser Hussain Reveals Mohammed Siraj’s Nickname
Siraj: The Captain’s Dream Who Rose to the Challenge
Breaking down his fitness journey further, Siraj said he closely follows Virat Kohli as his fitness inspiration and admitted that Kohli helped him a lot along the way.
“We all know about the fitness regime of Virat bhai, but the way Shami bhai has made a comeback is remarkable. He has become so lean and quick," he said.
Summing up this sacrificial and inspiring journey, Siraj has come a long way. His impact on the England tour was far greater than he could have imagined at the start of the series. He bowled day in and day out, stepping into Jasprit Bumrah’s shoes when he wasn’t playing. Even Shubman Gill and Joe Root said that Siraj is the kind of bowler every captain would want in their team.
"He [Siraj] is a captain's dream. Every ball, every spell he bowled, he came all out and gave it everything for the team. Both teams coming into Day 5 not knowing who would win shows how passionate both teams were and how hard everyone has played."
— Shubman Gill during the post-match presentation
Mohammed Siraj Stats in Anderson- Tendulkar Trophy
Matches: 5
Innings: 10
Overs: 185.3 overs / 1113 balls
Wickets: 23
Average: 32.43
5-wicket hauls: 2
