By :- Shruti Tiwari
In the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj has emerged as a formidable leader of India’s bowling attack, especially during the ongoing five-match Test series against England. The second Test is currently being played at Edgbaston, Birmingham, where Siraj’s fiery spell helped India dominate the proceedings.
Siraj Steps Up as the Senior Pacer
With India opting to rest Bumrah for this match, Siraj embraced the role of the lead pacer with confidence. He took six wickets in England’s first innings, dismissing key batters such as Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir, and Josh Tongue. Debutant Akash Deep also made a solid impression, picking up four wickets including the prized scalp of Harry Brook.
After scoring 587 runs in their first innings, India bowled out England for 407, gaining a substantial 180-run lead. At stumps on Day 3, India had scored 64/1 in their second innings, extending their overall lead to 244 runs.
Statistical Edge Without Bumrah
Interestingly, Siraj’s performances have statistically been more impactful in matches where Bumrah has not played. In 15 Tests (26 innings) without Bumrah, Siraj has taken wickets at an impressive average of 25.20. Comparatively, when bowling alongside Bumrah in 23 Tests (44 innings), his average rises to 33.82.
The trend continues when it comes to bowling with or without Mohammad Shami. In 12 matches where Siraj played without both Bumrah and Shami, he averaged a stellar 22.27, highlighting his ability to lead the attack solo.
Overseas Performance
On foreign pitches, Siraj’s efficiency increases in Bumrah’s absence. In 13 overseas innings without Bumrah, he has taken 30 wickets at an average of 23.3. When bowling alongside Bumrah abroad, he has 59 wickets in 32 innings at an average of 32.4.
Historic Feat at Edgbaston
With his six-wicket haul, Siraj became only the fourth Indian bowler to take five or more wickets in an innings at Edgbaston. He joins the elite company of Kapil Dev, Chetan Sharma, and Ishant Sharma. Before this Test, Siraj had gone 19 innings without a five-wicket haul. His last five-wicket performance came before July 2024.
Fan Reactions
Fans and analysts alike have praised Siraj’s performance. A user named Raghav wrote on social media: “When Bumrah isn’t playing, Siraj trusts himself. When Bumrah is playing, he places all his trust in Jassi bhai.”
Siraj’s growth as a dependable fast bowler under pressure is a promising sign for Team India, especially as they aim to build a robust pace battery for future overseas tours.