IND vs WI: Siraj Uproots Stump, Becomes No. 1 Test Bowler of 2025

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): When it comes to red-ball cricket, Mohammed Siraj stands unmatched. The Indian pacer, who has been wreaking havoc against the West Indies throughout the series, achieved another major milestone on Day 4 of the Delhi Test. The moment Siraj uprooted the middle stump of West Indies centurion Shai Hope, he became the highest wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2025.

On the fourth day, the West Indies seemed to be putting up a fight, with Shai Hope’s century adding some pressure on the Indian camp. But as soon as captain Rohit Sharma handed the ball to Siraj, the breakthrough was inevitable. By dismissing Hope, Siraj surpassed Blessing Muzarabani of Zimbabwe to claim the record for the most Test wickets in 2025. From the England tour to the home series, Siraj’s fiery spells have kept him consistently dominant.

Before Siraj’s heroics, West Indies also recreated a 51-year-old record. In the second innings, John Campbell (115) and Shai Hope (103) both scored centuries — the first time in 51 years that two West Indies batters hit centuries in a single Test innings in India. However, this achievement was short-lived, as both centurions were dismissed soon after reaching their milestones.

The collapse began right after the centurions fell — Jadeja dismissed Campbell, and Siraj sent Hope back. After that, Kuldeep Yadav spun a web around the middle order, dismissing Roston Chase, Tevin Imlach, and Khary Pierre in quick succession, completely breaking the Windies’ resistance.

At one stage, the visitors looked set for a big total, but their innings crumbled like a deck of cards. West Indies lost their last six wickets for just 40 runs. Once Shai Hope was dismissed at 271, the downfall continued until the team was reduced to 311 for 9.