Mohammed Siraj

In recent months, Mohammed Siraj has continued to build on his reputation as one of India's key pacers across all formats. His role in India's victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign was pivotal, though he played a limited number of matches during the tournament. Mohammed Siraj featured in three group-stage games and took a wicket, providing vital support during the early rounds. However, India relied on other pacers, such as Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, for the crucial Super 8, semifinal and final matches, with Mohammed Siraj being left out of the playing XI during those stages.

Following the World Cup, Mohammed Siraj was rested for the T20I series against Zimbabwe as part of India's rotation policy to manage player workload. Looking ahead, his role would be crucial as India prepares for upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, New Zealand and Australia later in the year.

A late bloomer

Although now one of India’s premier all-format bowler, Mohammed Siraj was famously a late bloomer in his cricketing journey. He only picked up cricket as a career well into his teens, beginning bowling at the age of 16. By those standards, his rise to the top of the international game has been meteoric, as he stands amongst the best swing and pace bowlers of his generation.

In only his second season of Ranji Trophy cricket with Hyderabad, Mohammed Siraj shot into prominence with a remarkable season in which he took 41 wickets, finishing third in the wicket-takers list that season. It was the kind of performance that immediately shot him into the limelight, as Sunrisers Hyderabad took a punt on him ahead of the 2017 IPL season, adding him to a battery of quality pacers.

Although he only played six games that tournament, he managed to take 10 wickets, and was fast-tracked to the international setup for his debut in the New Zealand series that year. As much as his bowling, what stands out while watching the Hyderabad pacer is his attitude and character. A figure who is aggressive, and wears his heart on his sleeve, Siraj’s bowling has always been high-risk-high-reward, often on the expensive side but always threatening.

Shines in Australia

A relatively young player in terms of experience against quality batters, there was always going to be a learning curve for Mohammed Siraj to go through. His volatile nature meant that consistency was something he had to work hard towards achieving, but with time, Mohammed Siraj was able to not only add speed to his bowling, but also accuracy.

Strong domestic and IPL showings meant Mohammed Siraj continued to get his fair share of chances. His big breakthrough would come in the famous Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in Australia in 2020-21. While he was an injury replacement during that series, he took to international red ball cricket like a duck to water.

His aggression made him the perfect pick for a closely fought series Down Under, where he battled through hostile crowds and an unforgiving Australian media to finish as India’s highest wicket-taker in the series, with 13 dismissals across three Test matches. By the final match of the series at the Gabba, the three-Test-old Mohammed Siraj was the leader of the inexperienced bowling unit as India scripted a famous series victory.

Skilled with passion

The format Mohammed Siraj truly shines in, however, is the 50-over format, where he has taken more than 70 wickets. He briefly occupied the number one ranking in the format, and earned a spot in the 2023 World Cup squad at home, where he shone in India’s record-breaking performance alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

Mohammed Siraj has also shown adaptability and a willingness to self-sacrifice for the betterment of the team in the Test format. He has developed the skills to be a valuable enforcer, bowling quick bouncers and uncomfortable lengths for long spells when the need arises.

Although now 30 years of age, Mohammed Siraj has only played professional-grade cricket for eight years, meaning he might have steam left in the tank for a long career even now. As comfortable in playing second-fiddle to the likes of Shami and Bumrah for the national team as he is leading RCB’s pace attack in the IPL, Mohammed Siraj has shown plenty of determination and fight throughout his career. He has endeared himself to Indian fans with his passion.