How Mohammed Siraj Came Out Of The Shadows Of Jasprit Bumrah And Zaheer Khan News24 –
He doesn’t have Jasprit Bumrah’s celebrity status or have a legacy like Zaheer Khan’s. But when it comes to delivering his best, no Indian fast bowler so far does it better right now than Mohammed Siraj.
While Bumrah might steal the headlines and Zaheer might be remembered for shaping India’s pace identity overseas, Siraj’s performances, especially in England – speak volumes in silence. He’s not flashy. He’s not chasing the spotlight. But he shows up, time and again, doing the hard yards when it matters most.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Siraj now holds the best strike rate among all Indian pacers in Test matches in England – better than Zaheer, Bhuvneshwar, Ishant Sharma, and yes, even Bumrah. His consistency has been quietly remarkable, and in the ongoing series against England, he has once again underlined why he’s India’s go-to workhorse on challenging tours.
In this series alone, Siraj has been relentless. Playing his fifth consecutive Test, he bowled a tireless eight-over spell on Day 2 and claimed three crucial wickets, swinging the momentum back in India’s favour when it was beginning to slip.
Joining the Elite
With this performance, Siraj has now entered an elite club. He has become only the second Indian bowler – after the great Kapil Dev to play all five Tests in an overseas series on three separate occasions and take 10 or more wickets each time.
What makes this feat even more special is its rarity. No other fast bowler in the world has managed to do this more than three times in the 21st century. That places Siraj not just among Indian greats, but among the global elite in terms of endurance, consistency, and impact.
More Than Just a Bowler
Siraj is more than his numbers. He embodies grit. He bowls with his heart, and fights for every wicket like it’s personal. Whether it’s his aggressive body language, his sharp bursts of pace, or the emotional celebrations after breakthroughs, Siraj brings energy that lifts the team.
In conditions like England, where fast bowlers thrive on patience and persistence – Siraj has found his calling. He doesn’t need to be the headline act. He just needs the ball in hand and a challenge to rise to.
The Relentless Fighter
In an era where player rotations are frequent and injuries common, Siraj has become a symbol of reliability. A bowler who doesn’t ask for rest, who doesn’t flinch under pressure, and who treats every spell like it could be match-defining.
He’s not just bowling overs – he’s winning respect, and slowly, building a legacy of his own.