Speaking candidly about the psychological and physical toll of playing all five Test matches in the current England series, Mohammed Siraj said his only motivation is the desire to represent India. Siraj has been the series' mainstay and the only pacer to play all five Test matches, along with Chris Woakes. 

In the first innings, he took four wickets to keep England's lead to just 18 runs, which was a fantastic performance for India. With 18 wickets, Siraj also surpassed Ben Stokes, who had 17 wickets, to become the series' leading wicket-taker.

Speaking to Dinesh Karthik on Sky Sports after a spirited second day at The Oval, Siraj said, “I love to play for the country. To be honest, I am not thinking about whether I will break down or not. In my mind, the plan is simple – give everything, and the rest will follow.”

Siraj was given more responsibility after senior pacer Jasprit Bumrah was released from the team for the last Test, and he performed admirably. He took 4/86 in 16.2 overs, which was equal to Prasidh Krishna's 4/62, as India's first innings saw them bowl England out for 247.

“I love responsibility. I am missing Jassi bhai because he is the senior bowler and guides us on the field. But when you’re given a bigger role, you feel confident. I don’t take much pressure. I like to keep things simple,” Siraj added.

Siraj also reflected on his all-round game and his hunger to contribute in every way.

“I bat a lot in the nets, so when I don’t deliver in the middle, I feel like I’ve let the team down. I want to give everything to India whenever I’m on the park. When I go to bed at night, I need to know I have given everything — that will give me a good night’s sleep,” Siraj added.

Joe Root and Harry Brook were among Siraj's victims; the latter was bowled for 53 following an aggressive fifty. As the tide shifted in India's favor, Krishna took the crucial wickets of Crawley, Jamie Smith, Overton, and Atkinson. India had a 52-run advantage at 75/2 at the end of Day 2.