No Rest, Just Results: Siraj Leads India’s Pace Attack in Overs Bowled

Mohammed Siraj is indefatigable, un-stoppable-the inspiration of the drive and persistence every fast bowler hopes to have get some years of his life in cricket. Since 2023, he has been a constant part of India’s Test and ODI squads, tirelessly leading the attack across conditions in the absence of Bumrah. Except for his omission from the Champions Trophy squad, he has featured in nearly every major series.

He bowls with raw emotion, heart on his sleeve, and fire in his eyes. Whether it’s the long spell in a test match at a flat pitch or the final spell of a grueling ODI, his intensity never fades. And yet, despite his unwavering commitment and crucial contributions, Siraj remains underpraised, a strong pillar of India’s pace attack whose impact deserves far more attention than it receives.

Unstoppable force across formats

Since early 2023, Mohammed Siraj has emerged as one of India’s most successful fast bowlers across all formats, particularly in Tests and ODIs. He has been a regular part of practically every playing XI, often being tasked with leading the attack in difficult foreign conditions and filling a gap when the team needed control, wickets, or energy. Siraj has done this in a variety of ways and at different paces, whether it is with a hard new ball or consistently bowling in long spells with an older ball.

Siraj’s contributions have been different from his counterparts since Bumrah is only available through management, and Shami is only available sometimes due to injuries. Siraj has not had any such breaks due to his consistent filling of roles with an unrivaled speed and sustainability. Siraj is India’s obvious preferred option in times of transition and the absence of senior pacers.

Most overs by pacers across formats (Since 2023)

What has made him so reliant, however, is also contributing to his peril of burnout, given that he is constantly taken for granted by team management. Despite the physical and mental fatigue that the demands of all formats put on him, Siraj continues to create intensity and illustrate himself to be important within India’s fast bowling ecology.

Bowling with heart: The fire that fuels him

You can question his aggression, but you’d be foolish to dispute his love for the game. Siraj sends a message with each delivery. He puts his emotions on display and exhibits an emotional intensity every time he bowls. You can see the dedication and energy he put into every ball, every over, every spell, and every match.

A pacer without aggression feels incomplete. There are many instances of Siraj revealing his aggressive side. The two most talked about are from BGT and the ongoing tour for India. He dismissed Head on a toe-crushing yorker and second when he gave a send-off to Duckett. These are the things that make cricket interesting. Players should have every right to celebrate moments like this.

That passion, combined with the effort, elevates him from being inconsequential, and he finds himself on the stage. His aggressive fast bowling ignites a passion with each wicket gained, and it is guided by the fire and emotion that stands above it all, which brings him through the rigors of all three formats of cricket.

Ignored but indispensable

India’s management of fast bowlers has generally revolved around rotation, especially with premium pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. Siraj has hardly been part of this. Since 2023, he has played near-continuously across formats only to shoulder whatever weight others left behind due to rest or injury.

He has ironically remained overused because he could always be relied upon. Whenever injury comes knocking, he is the automatic call from their bench. No matter the conditions. No matter his fatigue. He has approached all conditions with the same trust, yet the trust did not equate to adequate management. In a system that claims to prioritize player welfare, Siraj is overexposed and underprotected.

Most overs by Indian bowlers across formats (Since 2023)

Why Siraj deserves more credit

For all his energy and commitment, Mohammed Siraj is still underrated in the wider cricket conversation. He’s not the first choice in the Indian pace department, but he makes a tangible impact. Whether charging in on a new ball or running in with a well-chewed old ball, Siraj puts everything he has into it, always.

Most overs by Indian bowlers vs. England

But the claps from the stands are quiet. Too often, someone else takes the spotlight, and Siraj is forgotten. His passionate intensity, match-turning spells, and performing well under pressure deserve more than incidental praise. Acknowledgment is not merely for the stars; it should also recognize workhorses like Siraj, who allow winning to happen.