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During India’s tour of England, even without Virat Kohli present, Mohammed Siraj brought a similar level of intensity and passion to the game. Siraj, who has played alongside Kohli for many years, both on the Indian national team and with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), showed a fierce competitive spirit against England.

When asked about his energetic approach, Siraj explained that he had learned it from Kohli. Kohli taught him to see opponents as rivals during the game but to treat them with kindness and respect off the field.

Siraj mentioned that he adopted Kohli’s fighting spirit. According to Siraj, Kohli is friendly off the field. However, on the field, he treats the opposing team as the enemy. This is something that Siraj admires. He also mentioned that his bowling is fueled by aggression. He believes that he cannot perform well without showing that intensity on the field. He further shared that he has a great relationship with Kohli from their time together at RCB. Siraj also said that fast bowlers need to be aggressive while playing. He believes that Kohli displays even more aggression on the field than the bowlers themselves.

Throughout the series, Siraj was often seen in heated exchanges with England’s players. Sometimes, his behavior even led to warnings from the International Cricket Council (ICC). Beyond just getting under the skin of his opponents, Siraj has also learned from Kohli how to use the energy and support of the crowd to boost his performance.

Siraj recalled a specific instance during the final Test at The Oval. When Brook and Root were building a strong partnership, the Indian team started to lose momentum. Siraj took the initiative to encourage his teammates, which successfully led to Root’s dismissal.

Siraj also emphasized the impact of crowd support, something he learned from Kohli. He said that the crowd’s support can significantly boost a bowler’s confidence and performance. It can make a real difference, giving the bowler an extra edge