Only Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who are both fast bowling specialists, have played more Test matches than Mohammed Siraj, who made his debut in the 2020 Boxing Day Test. The only players who have taken more wickets than him are Cummins, Starc, Jasprit Bumrah, and Kagiso Rabada.
He isn’t mentioned in the same sentence, though. He is the only player in the top five fast bowlers of this era to average more than thirty, which contributes to it. Siraj appeared strong in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, but he finished up with a lackluster average of 31.15 in seam-friendly conditions, while Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, and Scott Boland all averaged just over 13.
Siraj’s bowling is not fully represented by his bowling average. To put his 30.88 in perspective, speed bowling has taken wickets at an average of 28.29 in all of Siraj’s Test matches. Furthermore, since the beginning of that tour of Australia, he has not had much luck.
Talking to the media during the ongoing India and England series, Siraj accepted that he has bowled well for India but has been unlucky.
“I have been bowling very well, but luck hasn’t been a little on my side,” he said. “As a bowler, I of course want wickets every time I bowl well, but you have to tell yourself that if not in this match, you will get it in the next.
“Upar wala bhi dekh raha hai [The man upstairs is watching]. If he has brought me this far, he will take me ahead as well. Don’t get so irritated if you don’t get wickets. Even in the last match, it was so frustrating when I beat Joe Root, drew edges, did everything, but the only thing missing was his wicket. But I have to tell myself to keep it simple and keep bowling good balls, and the results will come.”
On the fourth afternoon, Siraj drew nine false shots in 23 balls during that stint against Root. Because being evaluated based on performance can induce restlessness, he was asked if he ever looks back at his wickets and considers whether he has to adjust and possibly get a little bit fuller or straighter.
“If I go searching, I will leak runs,” he said. “My plan is to stay consistent and keep hitting the good areas. If I have to get wickets, I will get them from there. If I end up just building pressure instead, it could get us wickets from the opposite end. So at that time the mind doesn’t wander to my wickets.”
While the likes of Bumrah cannot afford to play every Test, Siraj has been consistent for India.
“I am thankful that God has kept me healthy, touch wood,” Siraj said. “Workload is one thing, and it goes in the book that Siraj has bowled this many overs, but for me, it is just another opportunity. I want to do well and want to help win matches for the country.
“I want to play as many matches as I can, and all I want is to give my 100%. That when I hit the bed, I shouldn’t feel I could have done more, no matter the results.”
The fourth Test between India and England will be played on 23rd July and if anything Siraj would give it all to level the series against England.
