Mohammed Siraj delivered a breathtaking performance in India’s 2025 Test series in England, bowling a staggering 185.3 overs across all five matches and emerging as the leading wickettaker with 23 wickets. Over the course of this physically draining schedule, Mohammed Siraj maintained relentless intensity – capturing crucial breakthroughs even in the final Test’s nerveshredding climax at The Oval where he sealed India’s six-run victory with a five-wicket haul.
Despite Mohammed Siraj’s cemented status as a matchwinner, the sheer volume of work—over 1,100 deliveries—raises a note of concern. Such a workload, delivered under constant high pressure, could easily lead to fatigue or niggles emerging in the aftermath.
Although Mohammed Siraj downplayed worries—insisting his “body is fine” and focusing solely on representing the country—there remains an inevitable question: can he sustain this level without rest or recovery? For a bowler who wore his heart on his sleeve, the concern isn’t whether his passion remains, but whether his physical frame will recover fully before the next challenge.
Yes, Mohammed Siraj missed India’s Champions Trophy campaign, but he remains the only pacer to have played all five Tests in both of India’s marquee series over the last 10 months—bowling tireless spells in Australia during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and in England during the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy.
Mohammed Siraj- The relentless Indian workhorse
Since making his Test debut, Mohammed Siraj has toiled harder than any other Indian pacer in SENA conditions, bowling 769.5 overs—more than Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood or even Kagiso Rabada. His relentless work rate in South Africa, England, New Zealand, and Australia is admirable but also concerning.
Only global pace workhorses like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins have bowled more during the same period. For someone who burst onto the scene as a support seamer, Mohammed Siraj has taken on a frontline role with remarkable consistency. With India’s packed calendar ahead, there’s growing worry over whether Mohammed Siraj’s body can withstand the sustained intensity without risking long-term fatigue or injury.
Most overs bowled by pacers in SENA since Mohammed Siraj’s Test debut:
- Pat Cummins (Australia) – Matches: 30, Overs: 960.3, Wickets: 134
- Mitchell Starc (Australia) – Matches: 30, Overs: 921.2, Wickets: 118
- Tim Southee (New Zealand) – Matches: 22, Overs: 820.1, Wickets: 72
- Mohammed Siraj (India) – Matches: 23, Overs: 769.5, Wickets: 91
- Jasprit Bumrah (India) – Matches: 21, Overs: 737.4, Wickets: 102
- Kagiso Rabada (South Africa) – Matches: 20, Overs: 612.2, Wickets: 101
- Josh Hazlewood (Australia) – Matches: 20, Overs: 611.0, Wickets: 80
- Matt Henry (New Zealand) – Matches: 15, Overs: 567.0, Wickets: 78
Since making his Test debut in the 2020 Boxing Day Test at the MCG, Siraj has bowled tirelessly for India. In just 41 matches, he has delivered 1069.5 overs—more than legends like James Anderson, Jasprit Bumrah, and Stuart Broad in the same period. Only Pat Cummins (1206.1), Mitchell Starc (1196.3), and Tim Southee (1109.1) have bowled more.
The other three — Cummins, Starc, and Southee — have had more opportunities to manage their workloads. In contrast, Siraj is the only bowler on this list to have played at least 14 matches in every Indian Premier League season since his debut. Until the 2024 T20 World Cup, he was also a regular across all formats for India.
Siraj’s 123 wickets reflect his impact, but it’s his relentless effort across formats and conditions that stands out. Despite injuries and workload management protocols around Indian pacers, Siraj has remained a constant presence, leading India’s pace attack with grit, energy, and endurance.
From Zero on Day 4 to Hero on Day 5 giving India their most memorable series levelling victory, Mohammed Siraj has finally came out of the shadows of Jasprit Bumrah with an exhilarating display of courage and lion heartedness with the red cherry in the hand to dismantle England. A total Indian workhorse bowling 169 overs over 5 Test matches without any workload management claiming 23 wickets and last wicket fittingly coming at a delivery of 145kmph, now Justice has been served to Mohammed Siraj by the cricketing Gods.
With India winning the last test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval, it means that the newly introduced trophy was shared by Indian captain Shubman Gill and England captain Ben Stokes.
With England needing 35 runs to win the Test and win the series 3-1, Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna made sure that the Shubman Gill led Indian team did not lose the series and India tied the series with a six-run win. With Mohammed Siraj being the leading wicket-taker of the series with 23 wickets and Gill being the highest scorer in the series with 754 runs, the series saw both the teams giving their best
With India losing the opening Test at Leeds by five wickets despite five centuries by an Indian batsman in the match, the Shubman Gill led Indian team would go on to win the second Test at Birmingham by 336 runs with Shubman Gill recording the second highest run aggregate in a single Test in Test cricket history.
England would deny India a series lead chance at Lords with the Indian team falling short of the 193-run target by 22 runs to take the lead 2-1 followed by the Indian team fighting to a draw at Manchester with centuries by Gill, Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja on the final day.
India looked well behind in the game with Harry Brook and Joe Root taking the match almost out of India’s hands. But with the Indian pacers led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna making sure that India were in the hunt for the series-levelling win, the Shubman Gill led Indian team levelled the series 2-2 with the six-run win on Monday. Hailing his match winning performance, David Llyod ,the Former English cricketer is in all praise of Mohammed Siraj for his never die attitude and determination on the field.
David Lloyd is in all praise of Mohammed Siraj for his impressive performance
Former England cricketer David Lloyd, has picked India’s Mohammed Siraj among his favorite cricketers following the latter’s heroics in the Fifth Test. The-cricketer-turned analyst lauded the speedster for stepping up in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah twice in the five-match series – The second and the fifth Tests at Edgbaston and the Oval bagging seven and nine wickets respectively.
David Lloyd’s remarks came as Mohammed Siraj single-handedly guided Team India to a dramatic win on Day 5 of the Fifth Test . With 35 runs and 4 wickets needed for the home team , the fast bowler bagged three wickets to completer his fifer and help India win the game by six runs. The victory also ensured a draw for India 2-2. Notably Mohammed Siraj scalped 23 wickets across 5 matches including 2 fifers to became the leading wicket taker in a series . David Llyod told the Overlap Cricket’s Youtube channel :
“ He’s one of my favorite cricketers now, Siraj.”
“ He comes alive with no Bumrah,” he added.
India must continue to manage Jasprit Bumrah’s workload to keep him at his best, but they also need to pay close attention to Siraj, who has quietly taken on a heavy burden. Former pacer RP Singh has warned that Mohammed Siraj, like Bumrah, needs careful handling to avoid injuries and burnout.
Since 2024, the two have bowled more than 69 per cent of India’s pace overs—highlighting the team’s overdependence on them and the lack of support from other pacers. While protecting Bumrah is crucial, ignoring Siraj’s workload could seriously weaken India’s pace attack. Giving both bowlers proper rest and rotating them smartly is key to keeping them fit and ensuring India’s long-term success.
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