Umpire Kumar Dharmasena recently shared his thoughts on Mohammed Siraj‘s exceptional performance in the fifth Test against England at The Oval. Dharmasena said that he had the ideal position to observe Siraj’s remarkable spell firsthand. Siraj was pivotal in India‘s thrilling victory by six runs.

The right-arm seamer took three of the four wickets that fell on the final day, playing a decisive part in levelling the series at 2-2. Siraj sealed the match with a lethal yorker that got rid of Gus Atkinson. Dharmasena, reflecting on the thrilling conclusion, noted that he witnessed Siraj’s exceptional performance.

“So lucky to witness this ball from the best seat in the house,”Dharmasena shared in a post on his Instagram.

Entering the Oval Test with a 1-2 deficit in the series, India fought back strongly to clinch a vital victory. Siraj’s standout performance earned him the Player of the Match award. He bowled 185.3 overs, the most by any bowler in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He finished as the leading wicket-taker with 23 scalps in nine innings, at an average of 32.43, which included two five-wicket hauls.

Even in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj maintained his composure and delivered consistently under pressure. His energy and unwavering commitment throughout the series earned him widespread admiration from the cricketing community.