For all the criticism Mohammed Siraj gets, one can’t undermine that he’s ready to bowl his heart out for the India cricket team. His legs may be tired, but his will never is. Yes, he’s disappointed people as his performance doesn’t justify his immense talent. But, he’s ready to bowl day in and day out for Team India. People forget that since 2021, there have been times when Team India had no one but him.
Mohammed ‘workhorse’ Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah was injured, and Mohammed Shami wasn’t always fit either. Team India moved on from Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar as time went on. He became Bumrah’s deputy when the pacer played, but as the leader of the pack, he struggled. But who can fault him? Every bowler isn’t there to lead from the front. Bumrah’s need Siraj’s and vice versa.
Since 2023, no Indian pacer has bowled more overs than him in international cricket. This is despite Bumrah being fit and playing an extra format, as Siraj hardly features in T20Is for Team India. Yet he’s thrown down more than 120 overs. The second-best to Siraj has bowled almost 450 extra overs.
India pacer’s output in international cricket since 2023
- Mohammed Siraj – 683.5 overs
Jasprit Bumrah – 560.1 overs
Mohammed Shami – 247.3 overs
Hardik Pandya – 180.3 overs
Siraj’s supreme fitness & fighting injury
Bumrah is easily the best pacer/bowler India has, but in terms of what he offers, Siraj is a close second. The gulf between him and the second-best after him is way too large. Siraj just played all five matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, in one of which he was injured as well, while Akash Deep, who was the best pacer after him, got injured after back-to-back matches.
No Bumrah or Shami, then Siraj ready to lead in ICC Champions Trophy
A recent RevSportz report claims that Siraj is all set to feature in Team India’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy. Many won’t like it. Many feel that Siraj has underperformed, and to some extent they are right. But his workload has never been managed. He’s been playing non-stop and hasn’t had time to take a breather, to refocus and work on his game.
There is doubt over Shami‘s availability for the 8-team tournament, and Bumrah injured himself in Sydney too. If God forbid neither of them plays in the ICC Champions Trophy, who do you think will lead the pacer’s pack? Arshdeep Singh isn’t a mainstay in ODIs. Harshit Rana isn’t ready. Mayank Yadav is raw and injury-prone. Prasidh Krishna and Avesh Khan haven’t played enough. Siraj will do his best, and if Team India doesn’t do well, he’ll be one people will criticise.
India’s predicted squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah* , Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami*
Traveling reserves: Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Riyan Parag
* = depending on fitness (otherwise Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan or Prasidh Krishna)
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