Mohammed Siraj spoke candidly about his standout performance for India in the 2025 Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, emphasising how Virat Kohli’s influence has shaped his mindset on the field. The fast bowler noted that aggression has become a central part of his game, a quality he developed by observing the former India skipper.

He explained that when he bowls, he views the opposition as fierce rivals, and that mindset fuels his competitive edge. Referring to the Harry Brook–Joe Root partnership, Siraj stressed how vital it is to keep the supporters engaged and energised during testing phases of a match.

“Maine yeh Virat bhai se sikha hai (I learned this from Virat Bhai). He always told us to play cricket with aggression and passion. On the field, the opponent is never a friend — he is the enemy. But once the match ends, we are all friends again,” he said.

“Throughout his career, he always played with same intensity, and that’s something I’ve tried to learn from him. On the fourth day at The Oval, when England had the upper hand with a strong partnership between Root and Brook, that was exactly the moment where intensity was needed. You can’t afford to let your shoulders drop or allow the game to slip away,” he added.

“The crowd can make a huge difference. After Brook’s dismissal, I was doing everything I could to fire them up, and it really worked. Root fell soon after, and suddenly we had all the momentum. The crowd was very loud, and it lifted every one of us. I was deliberately trying to get the crowd involved because I knew it would charge up the bowlers and it always does,” Siraj explained.

Siraj believes intensity brings out the best in him, just as it did for Kohli during his leadership days. He praised Kohli for setting the standard with his passion and drive, and credited the ex-captain for leaving a deep impact on both his career and the Indian team.

“I can’t be the same bowler without passion for the game. If there’s no banter or intensity on the field, I won’t be able to create an impact. I thrive on that energy, the same spirit Virat bhai always showed as captain. You should have seen the way he led. It inspired all of us and worked wonders for India. That’s exactly what I try to bring, and it helped us at The Oval too. It sends a message to the opposition that we won’t back down, that every ball will be a battle and we’ll fight for victory. That’s the player I’ve become, and for that, I owe credit to Virat bhai,” Siraj concluded.