Mohammed Siraj emerged as the top wicket-taker with a remarkable 23 scalps during India’s tour of England, which turned out to be a career-defining series for him.
What caught the attention of supporters and analysts alike was not just his tally, but the way he performed in the match in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
With the team management carefully managing Bumrah’s workload and limiting his appearances, Siraj grabbed the opportunity to become India’s go-to pacer, stepping up as the leader of the pace unit.
The turning point came at The Oval Test, where Siraj looked unstoppable. With Bumrah not playing, he shouldered the responsibility of leading the attack and bowled with fierce determination. His fiery spell proved pivotal in India’s memorable win, ensuring the visitors squared the series 2-2. Speaking about that phase, Siraj admitted that responsibility has always been a driving force behind his performances.
“When I get an opportunity to shoulder responsibility, even if you look at a mundane series, my performance always grows. Responsibility gives me a different kind of joy, and boosts my confidence. I told you at Edgbaston that people are talking about me, and it’s time to make all that talk stop. I usually am very aware of what I’m doing, and do not pay heed to what people are saying because people do not know my struggle. Despite that, I thought it’s time to stop such talk because it was getting too much,” Siraj explained.
Siraj has often been seen as someone who performs with intensity, but his comments underline the mental side of his game. For him, external criticism does not matter as much as internal motivation. The added burden of responsibility, rather than weighing him down, seems to push him to perform at a higher level. This mindset was on full display during the England series.
Explaining further what made him rise in Bumrah’s absence, Siraj revealed that it was his belief in himself and the positive energy he tried to instill in the team’s bowling unit. He knew the absence of India’s premier fast bowler could affect the morale of the side, and he took it upon himself to make sure that did not happen.
“With Jassi Bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) not being there due to his back injury and his workload being managed, I tried my bit to keep the positivity in the bowling unit. Whenever I was talking to my teammates, Akash Deep and all, I was trying to spread the belief that we can do it. We can repeat what we have done already,” Siraj said.
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These words reflect how Siraj has matured into a senior figure within the Indian setup. From being the youngster learning under Bumrah and Shami, he has grown into someone the team can rely on in crunch situations. The England series only reinforced this fact — that when given responsibility, Siraj not only rises to the occasion but thrives under pressure.
For India, the emergence of Siraj as a dependable leader of the pace attack alongside Bumrah could prove invaluable in upcoming assignments.
Pic Credit (Screen grab: YouTube ABP Desam)
