Mumbai, Aug 6 (PTI) India pacer Mohammed Siraj touched down in Mumbai on Wednesday, arriving from London after being instrumental in India's gripping 2-2 draw against England in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Siraj emerged as the leading wicket-taker of the five-match series with an impressive tally of 23 wickets.
The 31-year-old fast bowler stepped into the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in style, clad in sleek black casuals, where a small but enthusiastic gathering of fans welcomed him warmly.
Although there were numerous requests for selfies and autographs, Siraj swiftly made his way into a car, presumably heading to the domestic terminal for his connecting flight to Hyderabad, his hometown.
A Hyderabad Cricket Association official expressed their pride, stating, "We have not spoken to him yet. But we will certainly plan something (felicitation) for him, as he could be in the city for a while now. It’s a matter of pride for all of us that he did so well for the country in the series against England."
Siraj's most noteworthy performance was on the final day of the Oval Test, where he crucially aided India in dismissing England for 367 in their pursuit of 374.
Securing five wickets in that innings, Siraj concluded with a remarkable nine-wicket haul for the match.
The nail-biting six-run victory, the narrowest in India's Test history, significantly contributed to achieving the admirable 2-2 series tie.
Indian captain Shubman Gill lauded Siraj's performance, especially in the absence of senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who sat out the Oval Test as part of a workload management strategy.
"He [Siraj] is a captain's dream, every ball, every spell he bowled he came all out and gave it everything for the team," Gill said after the fifth Test.
Siraj, for his part, was confident about clinching victory on the final day at the Oval, needing just four wickets while defending a mere 35 runs.
He affirmed, "I always believe that I can win the game from any point, and this morning was no different."
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