Mohammed Siraj showed his Miyan Magic with the bat as India completed an interesting win over Sri Lanka in their warm-up match ahead of the Test series.
The match lasted just three days, but there were plenty of positives as well as a few concerns for the Indian team.
Siraj deserves special praise. Whenever India need a contribution from him with the ball or the bat, he is always ready to give his best.
This time, it was Mohammed Siraj’s batting that caught everyone’s attention as he played an attacking knock towards the end and helped India complete the chase in an unusual manner.
Mohammed Siraj Batting Changes the Game in Final Overs
India needed 23 runs from the final two overs, with Saransh Jain and Manav Suthar at the crease.
Both are technically capable batters and were comfortably taking the innings forward. However, with only 23 runs required, Gautam Gambhir and the Indian team management decided to try something different.
Manav Suthar was retired out, allowing Mohammed Siraj to come to the crease.
The intention was quite clear. India wanted to go for the win.
Siraj came in with an attacking mindset and did exactly what the team expected from him.
India needed 16 runs in the final over, and Siraj with 3 sixes of first 3 deliveries finished things in style . The remaining deliveries were also bowled despite India having already completed the chase, and Siraj added another boundary.
He eventually finished with 32 runs from just 15 balls, including one four and four sixes.
Miyan Magic, it seems, is no longer limited to bowling.
Mohammed Siraj went complete beast mode to seal the match🔥
23 runs in a single over (6, 6, 6, 0, 4, 1) to power India home against SLC XI🏏
📷: SonyLiv pic.twitter.com/RE8I6ML5Jp
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 9, 2026
Why Sri Lanka Declared Their Innings
At the same time, it is important to understand the context of India’s victory.
Sri Lanka were not treating the situation like a competitive Test match where winning was the only objective.
They declared their innings at 200/6 despite holding a lead of only 206 runs.
The decision was most likely taken to give India another opportunity to bat before the warm-up match ended. It is also possible that the Indian team management requested another batting opportunity.
Therefore, India certainly won the match, but Sri Lanka’s declaration created the opportunity for that result.
Still, India made good use of the situation.
Shubman Gill’s Fitness Is a Big Positive for India
Shubman Gill came out to bat and scored 44 runs from 54 balls, hitting seven boundaries.
However, the biggest positive was not the number of runs he scored.
The biggest positive was that Gill looked fit.
Ahead of the first Test against Sri Lanka, that is exactly what the Indian team management would have wanted to see.
Gill spent useful time at the crease and looked ready for the opening Test, which should be encouraging for India.
Yashasvi Jaiswal Returns to Runs
Yashasvi Jaiswal also made good use of the opportunity.
After failing in his previous innings, the left-handed opener responded with 61 runs.
Getting runs before the Test series should give Jaiswal some confidence. India will expect him to play an important role at the top of the order against Sri Lanka.
So, from a batting point of view, there were several positives.
Jaiswal scored runs, Gill looked fit, KL Rahul contributed, while Ravindra Jadeja also looked comfortable with the bat.
Dhruv Jurel’s Form Is a Concern for India
However, not everything went according to plan for the Indian batting unit.
The form of Dhruv Jurel remains a concern.
Jurel has not made the kind of contribution India would have expected from him with the bat in his recent innings. His lack of runs in the lower middle order could become an issue during the two-match Test series.
India will need contributions from that part of the batting order, especially if the top order fails in difficult conditions.
Therefore, Jurel will need to find some form during the Test series.
Tailenders’ Contribution With the Bat Is the Biggest Positive for India
One of the encouraging signs from these warm-up matches has been the contribution of India’s Tailenders’ with the bat.
Siraj showed in 2nd inning that he can score some useful runs if required.
His 32 off 15 balls was obviously played in a completely different situation from a Test match, but the confidence he showed with the bat was encouraging.
Whereas in first inning it was Gurnoor Brar who scored 4 sixes in the last over of the play and scored crucial 36 runs of 18 deliveries.
If Siraj and Brar can contribute even 20-25 useful runs when required during the Test series, it can make a difference.
India’s Bowling Still a Concern Before Sri Lanka Tests
While there were positives with the bat, India’s bowling performance remains an area of concern.
No bowler has consistently produced the kind of spark India would ideally want to see before the Test series.
Kuldeep Yadav showed some encouraging signs earlier, while Ravindra Jadeja also bowled reasonably well in Sri Lanka’s second innings.
Still, the Indian bowling attack would probably have expected to dominate this Sri Lankan batting unit more comfortably.
Sri Lanka managed to put up a fight, and India were unable to completely run through their batting order.
That is something the team management will have to look at before the first Test.
India Take Positives From Warm-Up Win
India have won the warm-up match, although it would be fair to say that Sri Lanka’s declaration gave them the opportunity to force a result.
Still, there were several encouraging signs for the Indian team.
Yashasvi Jaiswal returned to runs, Shubman Gill looked fit, and Mohammed Siraj produced an entertaining cameo with the bat.
At the same time, Dhruv Jurel’s form and the overall performance of the bowling attack remain areas India will want to improve before the Test series begins.
As far as Mohammed Siraj’s batting is concerned, the Indian pacer has shown that Miyan Magic can work with the bat as well.
If India’s tail can contribute crucial runs during the Test series, it could become an important advantage for the team.