Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, known for his composure under pressure, found himself at a rare loss for words when questioned about the India-Pakistan World Championship of Legends (WCL) controversy during a media interaction on Monday. While the press conference was primarily meant to address India’s ongoing Test series against England, the discussion took an unexpected turn when a reporter asked for Siraj’s views on India’s Legends team withdrawing from a scheduled match against Pakistan.
India’s WCL squad, which included cricketing icons like Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and Suresh Raina, was set to face Pakistan’s veteran players in Birmingham on Sunday. However, the game was abruptly cancelled after reports emerged that several Indian players refused to participate following the Pahalgam terror attack, which tragically claimed the lives of innocent tourists and further strained Indo-Pak relations.
Siraj Caught Off-Guard
When asked about the cancellation, Siraj appeared visibly confused and uncomfortable.
“I don’t know,” he said, shrugging.
Upon being asked whether India would participate against Pakistan in future ICC events, Siraj responded again with:
“I don’t know what to say.”
The awkward moment underlined how sensitive and politically complex the subject remains, even for players who are not directly involved in the WCL setup. Siraj’s discomfort is understandable, given that the current Indian national team adheres to government policy regarding bilateral ties with Pakistan.
Siraj Reflects on Lord’s Test Loss
Shifting back to the cricket that he was involved in, Siraj spoke candidly about India’s heartbreaking loss in the third Test at Lord’s, where the team fell just 22 runs short of what would have been a famous win. Siraj, batting alongside Ravindra Jadeja in the final innings, fought valiantly before being dismissed as the last man standing.
“It obviously hurts when you get out despite middling the ball,” Siraj said.
“The way our partnership was going, I felt I wouldn’t get out. I was that confident. But unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way. I was extremely disappointed.”
Siraj was dismissed by Shoaib Bashir, who bowled a delivery that bounced awkwardly and rolled onto the stumps after Siraj initially defended it. Jadeja, who was left stranded at the other end with a fighting 61 not out, could only watch helplessly as the innings came to an end
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Bumrah and Bowling Highlights
Despite the result, India had much to celebrate from the Test, especially the performance of Jasprit Bumrah, who led the bowling attack with distinction. He picked up seven wickets in the match, five of them coming in a dominant first innings display.
India will now regroup for the fourth Test in Manchester, with the series hanging in the balance and momentum slightly tilted toward England after their Lord’s comeback.
Conclusion
The viral moment featuring Mohammed Siraj’s baffled reaction serves as a reminder of how deeply intertwined cricket and geopolitics have become in the subcontinent. While the WCL match cancellation stirred debate across social media and sports circles, it’s clear that players like Siraj are primarily focused on the challenges within the boundary ropes.
As India prepares for its next big test in the ongoing England series, fans and pundits alike will continue to watch both the cricketing action and the off-field conversations with equal intensity.
