In the recently finished five-match Test series against England, Mohammed Siraj showed that he can be India’s number one fast bowler.
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He impressed everyone with his energy, hard work, and strong performance in all the matches. His excellent bowling in the fifth and final Test at The Oval helped India win by just six runs and tie the series 2-2.
Siraj had an outstanding series and took the most wickets among all bowlers. Since Jasprit Bumrah was not playing, Siraj took the lead in India’s fast bowling attack. He bowled a total of 185.3 overs and picked up 23 wickets.
His best performance came in the final Test, where he took nine wickets overall, including five in the second innings. This showed that Siraj can handle pressure and perform when it matters most.
Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who retired in 2024, praised Siraj for his skill, hard work, and attitude. Ashwin said senior players like Gautam Gambhir and Shubman Gill should support Siraj and manage him well. Ashwin added, “We did not recognize Siraj before. Now it’s time to do that. His celebration and performance showed us he is a true champion.”
Ashwin also said that Siraj should be given rest in less important matches to avoid injuries and stay fresh for big games. This will help him have a long and healthy career.
Former fast bowler RP Singh also talked about Siraj’s workload. He said Siraj bowled as much as Bumrah usually does in such series. RP Singh believes that Siraj’s fitness should be carefully managed so he can stay strong and continue performing well. Siraj’s fitness is excellent, and he regularly bowled at over 140 km/h in all five Tests, which is very rare for a fast bowler.
During the difficult tour of England, Siraj showed great fighting spirit, mental strength, and smart bowling. Even when things went wrong like dropped catches or poor batting he never gave up.
His yorkers were sharp and accurate, and he always kept pressure on the batsmen. His final yorker that dismissed Gus Atkinson and helped India win the match will always be remembered as a special moment in Indian cricket.
Siraj’s strong performance has also given India a chance to build a new fast bowling team. Young bowlers like Akash Deep, Prasidh Krishna, and Arshdeep Singh are also growing. When Bumrah is back, his partnership with Siraj will make India’s fast bowling much stronger. Siraj builds pressure, while Bumrah breaks partnerships together, they are a deadly combo.
Mohammed Siraj’s amazing performance in England is the start of a new era for Indian fast bowling. With his hard work, skills, and strong mindset, he is now seen as a special player who can lead India’s Test bowling for many years.