India found themselves spiraling towards a humiliating defeat on Day 5 of the first Test at Headingley, as England’s openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley launched a dominant assault on a massive 471-run target.
By the time rain interrupted play midway through the second session, the pair had already amassed a commanding 181-run opening partnership. The pressure was squarely on India, and despite Jasprit Bumrah’s fiery spells and a determined effort from Mohammed Siraj, no breakthrough was in sight.
The defining moment of frustration came shortly after Duckett reached a well-deserved century, made possible in part due to a costly error in the field. Yashasvi Jaiswal, stationed at deep square leg, misjudged a catch and allowed Duckett a lifeline.
The drop left the Indian players visibly disappointed, none more than Siraj, who had worked hard to create the opportunity. With the momentum slipping fast, Siraj turned to an age-old tactic in such situations—verbal warfare.
In the 41st over, Siraj returned for a fresh spell, clearly still fuming over the dropped catch. On the third delivery of the over, Duckett attempted an aggressive shot down the ground but was comprehensively beaten by late seam movement. Both feet stuck in the crease, the English batter looked momentarily clueless. Siraj, unable to resist, walked up to him with a smirk and dropped a passive-aggressive jibe: “T20 mode?”
At first, Duckett didn’t seem to fully catch the sarcasm and needed a couple of repetitions from Siraj. Once the meaning sank in, he responded with a comment of his own. What followed was a short exchange that ended with both players sharing a laugh—though the smirk on Siraj’s face suggested there was more behind the banter, while Duckett’s smile looked faintly irritated.
— BavumaTheKing Temba (@bavumathek83578) June 24, 2025
The moment offered a brief respite from India’s grim reality on the field. With England halfway to pulling off a historic chase and their openers looking unshakable, Siraj’s attempt at sledging was more a reflection of mounting frustration than strategic provocation. It was also a reminder that in high-pressure games, the emotional battle can be just as intense as the one with bat and ball.