July 4, 2025: India’s pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj lit up Edgbaston on the third morning of the second Test, claiming the crucial wickets of Joe Root and Ben Stokes in consecutive deliveries, swinging momentum firmly in India’s favour in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series.
Siraj, bowling with pace and precision, first dismissed Joe Root with a delivery that nipped down the leg side. Root, attempting a flick, only managed a faint inside edge. Wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant displayed sharp reflexes to dive low and complete a clean catch.
On the very next ball, Siraj sent back England captain Ben Stokes with a perfectly directed short ball outside off stump. Surprised by the bounce, Stokes was unable to drop his wrists in time, and the ball brushed his bat on the way to Pant, who took another clean catch behind the stumps.
The back-to-back dismissals sent a jolt through the English dressing room and left the home side reeling early in the day. It was a stunning display of bowling from Siraj, whose spell has put India in a commanding position.
Earlier in the match, Shubman Gill’s record-breaking double century had powered India to a mammoth 587-run total—India’s highest score in England in 18 years. With early wickets on Day 3, India now looks well-placed to build a substantial lead in the match and take control of the series.
As the second Test continues, all eyes will be on Siraj and India’s bowling unit to see if they can finish the job and capitalise on their dominant start.