ENG vs IND 2025: 'Miyan magic is a special player' - Aakash Chopra hails Siraj's six-wicket haul at Edgbaston

ENG vs IND 2025: 'Miyan magic is a special player' - Chopra hails Siraj's six-wicket haul at Edgbaston. (Source:X/Twitter)

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra heaped praise on Mohammed Siraj for his outstanding bowling performance in the second Test against England at Edgbaston. Siraj bowled some fiery deliveries in his spell on Day 3, especially against Ben Stokes, whom he dismissed for a golden duck, the first such instance in England skipper's Test career.

Siraj returned with impressive figures of 6 for 70 in 19.3 overs as India bowled out England for 407 in their first innings, helping themselves take a mammoth 180-run lead. Among his six wickets were two major breakthroughs, Joe Root and Stokes, off successive deliveries. Chopra applauded the pacer for executing such a lethal spell on a batting-friendly surface.

“You definitely get one thing with Miyan Magic. He runs in and bowls his heart out every single time. If you need someone who will give his 100 percent whenever you give him the ball, that is Mohammed Siraj. Mohammed Siraj's commitment level, passion, aggression, and consistency in terms of his attitude are mind-boggling and heartwarming. He puts in everything he has,” Chopra said in his YouTube Channel.

“He is not going to stop whether he gets wickets or not, irrespective of what is happening at the other end and how much he is getting hit, whether he has a niggle or not. The guy bowled incredibly once again. It's a road-like pitch. A lot of runs have been scored, but Siraj has shone. He picked up six wickets, dismissed Root, and Stokes' number is now in his back pocket,” he added.

Indian team has been unfair to Siraj: Chopra

The Agra-born expressed concern over the fiery pacer's exclusion from the Champions Trophy squad. He admitted that leaving out the Hyderabad-born pacer was unfair and described him as a special player who deserves careful management.

“Just spend a moment of thought. You talk about workload management. This guy has bowled so many overs across three formats in the last two or three years that you say, take a bow, and despite that, we hadn't kept him in the Champions Trophy team. I was hurt because I felt we have been unfair to Siraj,” Chopra conceded.

“He didn't have luck at Headingley, but he toiled hard. You need a little luck for catches down the leg. This time, there was luck, and a lot of heart, grit, and resolve. Miyan Magic is a special player. He needs to be handled carefully,” he added.