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IND vs WI: Mohammed Siraj Battles Fatigue After India’s Follow-On Decision Backfires

By
Unnati Madan
Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to...
4 Min Read

IND vs WI: Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj looked completely drained on Day 4 of the second Test against the West Indies at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, played on Monday, October 13. After a long and demanding bowling spell, Mohammed Siraj was spotted in the Indian dugout receiving both a head and foot massage to help him recover. An ice pack was also placed on his head as he tried to cool down and relax.

Mohammed Siraj had been working hard throughout the innings and made a crucial breakthrough when he dismissed West Indies batter Shai Hope in the 84th over. Hope, who played a gritty knock of 103 off 214 balls, was caught off guard by a back-of-a-length delivery that stayed low, caught the inside edge, and went on to hit the stumps. Mohammed Siraj celebrated the wicket with his trademark gesture, showing a mix of relief and passion as he claimed his second scalp of the innings.

The video of Siraj’s condition quickly went viral on social media. Fans had mixed reactions – many expressed concern, and some even questioned captain Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir’s decision to enforce the follow-on, which led to the Indian bowlers spending over 190 overs on the field.

IND vs WI: West Indies Fight Back After Follow-On

For the first time in the home series, Team India found themselves under pressure as the West Indies showed real grit in their second innings. After gaining a 270-run lead, Shubman Gill chose to enforce the follow-on. But instead of crumbling, the West Indies batters came out with determination.

Shai Hope and John Campbell put on a brilliant 177-run stand for the third wicket. Both batters went on to score centuries and managed to wipe out the deficit, putting India on the back foot for a while and forcing them to prepare for a second innings.

But the tide turned again in the second session. Kuldeep Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah stepped up, triggering a much-needed collapse in the West Indies batting lineup. However, just when India seemed to have things under control, Justin Greaves and Jayden Seales dug in and stitched together an unbeaten 50-run partnership for the final wicket. At tea on Day 4, the West Indies were at 363 for 9, keeping the contest alive.

Notable Records Achieved In Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025
(PC- ESPN)

Mohammed Siraj Tops Test Wicket Charts in 2025

Despite the physical toll, 2025 has been a dream year for Mohammed Siraj in Test cricket. He’s now the leading wicket-taker in Tests this year with 37 wickets. He went past Zimbabwe’s Blessing Muzarabani, who has picked up 36 wickets in nine matches.

Mohammed Siraj’s performance has been nothing short of exceptional. He reached the 37-wicket mark in just 15 innings across eight Tests – his best year in red-ball cricket so far.

The 31-year-old was especially impressive during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 against England, where he took 23 wickets in five matches. He’s continued that momentum into the West Indies series, grabbing seven wickets in the first Test at Ahmedabad – four in the first innings and three in the second.

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Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.