ENG vs IND: We just need to believe in our skills and bat longer in the second innings: Mohammed Siraj

Team India are having a horror outing in the ongoing Leeds Test against England. After being all-out for just 78, the visitors have already conceded a humungous lead of 345 runs and still have three full days to survive. No doubt Virat Kohli's team have their backs against the wall but pacer Mohammed Siraj is confident that India can make a comeback into the match.

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The hosts are in a commanding position at stumps on Day 2, thanks to Joe Root’s masterclass. The skipper scored his third consecutive hundred and enabled England to get to 423. Siraj, who managed to break the 139-run stand between Root and Dawid Malan, spoke about how the pitch got flattened on Day 2 and offered very little help for the pacers. He further opined that India is not worried about Root’s form and said they are still leading the series.

"When a batsman (Root) is in good touch and flow, they score runs. We shouldn't be bothered by someone scoring runs. Even if you score 100 or 200, we are still one-up in the series," Siraj said on Thursday after the hosts cruised to a commanding first-innings lead of 345 on day two of the Headingley game.

Siraj also said the Indian batters should now focus on batting long in the second innings and not be worried about the first innings performance. "Sometimes we have a bad day when we get out early in a Test match and have to field longer," Siraj said. "But that shouldn't lower your morale as we are still left with two matches and leading the series 1-0.

Siraj concluded by saying that the team should try to back its strengths. "We don't need to worry too much, we just need to believe in our skills and back ourselves," he said.