ENG vs IND Test series | Flashy workhorse Siraj and the head honcho’s hat

Can Mohammed Siraj be the Scottie Pippen to Jasprit Bumrah’s Michael Jordan? India will need him to during this English summer.

If Shubman Gill’s new-look Indian team has to go toe-to-toe against England, Siraj’s performances have to be nothing short of top-notch.

Of all the Indian pacers who have boarded the flight for this five-match Test series, Siraj is the second-most experienced (36 Tests) and has played the second-most number of Tests in England (six). The answer to who is first is not exactly a secret.

Siraj’s time with the Warwickshire County Cricket Club and his India-A exposure help him top the list of Indian speedsters with the most First Class wickets in England (46 scalps). Bumrah, with only India matches in the Old Blighty, has 38 wickets.

It will not be an understatement to suggest that Siraj is in for a long shift in the next couple of months.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Siraj’s job description (strictly related to fast bowling duties here!) is expected to alternate between second-in-command and the head honcho as India will not have the services of pace ace Bumrah for at least two Tests (add most likely).

Make no mistake, it is a challenge of the highest order. A quick scan of Siraj’s stats with and without Bumrah alongside him reveals that the Hyderabad speedster is not averse to being the alpha.

After all, he was entrusted with the lead role in just his first foray into Test cricket.

A spate of injuries ahead of the fourth Test in India’s 2020-21 Australia tour meant that Siraj, with all of two Tests under his belt, had to spearhead the extremely inexperienced Indian bowling attack.

He aced the trial by fire with panache, notching up his first Test five-wicket haul to set up India’s series triumph Down Under.

What transpired in Brisbane in early January 2021 was an extraordinary tale of grit and determination from the young Indian brigade. Coach Gautam Gambhir will hope for an encore in England.

Captain’s delight

Siraj — the flashy workhorse that he is — is a captain’s delight.

India’s 37th Test skipper, Gill, is eagerly waiting to team up with Siraj and emulate their successful partnership in the Gujarat Titans colours.

“Siraj and I made our Test debuts together. We almost made our ODI debuts together, and we have played so many India-A matches together. So, having that bond with him and knowing what he is capable of helps,” Gill told Sky Sports.

The skipper has every reason to be thrilled to have a potent weapon like Siraj in his arsenal, especially given how the pacer has shown unwavering commitment to Gill’s predecessors.

“For 60 overs, they should feel like hell out there,” a fired-up Virat Kohli — granted that that was the former India captain’s default setting — had ordered his soldiers ahead of the fourth innings at Lord’s in 2021. Your wish is my command, said Siraj.

Jos Buttler and Moeen Ali, in the middle of an alliance that went on for more than 15 overs, were looking comfortable. Siraj made sure the English batters felt uncomfortable from thereon. He nicked off Moeen and Sam Curran off consecutive balls and dished out a ripsnorter of a short ball at Ollie Robinson’s chest, walked up straight at the batter and asserted he meant business.

The drama at Lord’s after Siraj dismissed Buttler still does the rounds on Instagram reels.

Kohli gestured to his pacer to go for sharp bouncers aimed at No. 11 James Anderson’s head. A pumped-up Siraj conveyed he was up for the task by repeating what his skipper signalled.

A bustling Siraj shortly castled Anderson and sealed India’s 151-run win at the Home of Cricket.

Siraj conjured up his career-best figures in a Test (eight for 126) and ensured his skipper’s war cry will go into the annals of Indian cricket.

Siraj again showcased his will to do whatever it takes for the team when Ben Stokes & Co. visited India in 2024.

Captain Rohit Sharma had asked his bowlers to be ready for longer spells in a team meeting as R. Ashwin had to return to Chennai due to a family emergency midway through the Rajkot Test. Siraj obliged and returned his best figures at home (four for 84).

“In the morning, when we got to know that Ash bhai was not there, more responsibility fell on us. Rohit bhai told us that we will need to bowl long spells, and I love bowling long spells,” Siraj said after the third day’s play.

“Since we were one bowler short, the remaining four bowlers had to bowl more. For a fast bowler in Test cricket, one cannot set up a batter in three or four overs. And we got success due to long spells,” he added.

Interestingly, Siraj (5306 deliveries) and Bumrah (5381) have bowled almost the same number of balls in Test cricket since the former’s debut on December 26, 2020.

Hunting in packs

Siraj is indeed keen on putting his hand up and leading the way when push comes to shove. However, he also understands the value of hunting in packs, especially when the guy bowling next to him is Bumrah.

Cut back to India’s 2023-24 tour of South Africa; Siraj did not have a good start to the two-match series. He struggled to find rhythm in the first Test in Centurion (24-1-91-2) in a match that saw India lose by an innings and 32 runs.

It was as if the turn of the calendar flicked a switch in Siraj. He ripped through the Proteas line-up (bundled out for 55 in the first essay) and made sure India levelled the series 1-1 with a famous seven-wicket win in Cape Town. He thanked his partner in crime for the quick turnaround in fortunes.

“Whenever Jassi bhai shares a message, we understand which line and length is better on that wicket. I don’t need to think too much once I get that message. I just need to be consistent and [I know] I will get success. I am very happy that Bumrah is at the other end [bowling with me],” Siraj said after producing his best figures in a Test innings (six for 15).

Bumrah, while translating to the broadcaster what Siraj said in Hindi, added his own thoughts on their synergy.

“When we play together, he gets the message a little earlier because of our experience.

“We try to analyse the wicket a little quicker so that the communication goes in the bowling circuit on how the pitch is behaving. This is what we look to do,” Bumrah said.

Game-changer Bumrah

Siraj acknowledging Bumrah’s genius is not a one-off occurrence.

“I’m only believe on Jassie bhai, because game-changer player he is only one guy, he is Jasprit Bumrah,” Siraj said after India’s miracle win over South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final.

His English may be broken, but Siraj’s genuine words filled with love and respect captured the raw emotions perfectly and resonated with one and all.

There was no stopping Siraj’s tears in Barbados then, and India will expect there is no stopping him with the Dukes ball in hand on English shores next.