Mohammed Siraj has long been touted as a secondary pacer and many questioned if he’s even worthy of replacing the likes of Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami, who are unlikely to play Tests for India. But there’s no denying in the efforts that Siraj put and that is exactly the reason he has developed himself into a true asset for India. The fifth Test against England at the Oval was the game that made Siraj earn the true respect of the entire nation.
Workhorse Mohammed Siraj
It was his belief that kept Siraj hunting for wickets and consequently becoming India’s match-winner. He was at the receiving end of a couple of unfortunate moments, including the slow-death bowled dismissal of his at Lord’s and the missed catch opportunity of Harry Brook. But fittingly, it was Siraj who plucked the last wicket of Gus Atkinson to draw the series 2-2.
But unlike other pacers, Siraj played all five Tests. Unlike other fast bowlers, Siraj gave his all and dished out 1,113 deliveries in the series, comfortably the most by anyone. There were workload talks for Siraj but the man kept going, bowling his heart out. You need to be a machine to deliver a workload equivalent of almost 47 IPL games just in a space of five Tests. But what is the secret behind Siraj’s immense stamina or being the workhorse he actually is? Well, to no one’s surprise, that is by maintaining a strict diet. Despite being a hardcore Hyderabadi, Siraj has shied away from one of the greatest delicacies, the Biryani!
“Yes, absolutely. He focuses a lot on fitness. He avoids junk food and maintains a disciplined diet. Even living in Hyderabad, he rarely eats biryani — maybe occasionally, and only if it’s homemade. But no pizzas or fast food — he’s very disciplined about his body,” Mohammed Ismail told India Today.
“100%, he never gives up, even when he wasn’t selected for the Champions Trophy squad, he didn’t let it demotivate him. Instead, he worked even harder. He hit the gym, focused on his fitness, and practiced hard every day — morning and evening. He identified what was missing and fixed it,” he added.
Mohammed Siraj in IND vs ENG Tests
| Overs | Wkts | Ground | Start Date | Test Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16.2 | 4 | The Oval | 31 Jul 2025 | 5 |
| 30.1 | 5 | The Oval | 31 Jul 2025 | 5 |
| 30.0 | 1 | Manchester | 23 Jul 2025 | 4 |
| 23.3 | 2 | Lord’s | 10 Jul 2025 | 3 |
| 13.0 | 2 | Lord’s | 10 Jul 2025 | 3 |
| 19.3 | 6 | Birmingham | 2 Jul 2025 | 2 |
| 12.0 | 1 | Birmingham | 2 Jul 2025 | 2 |
| 27.0 | 2 | Leeds | 20 Jun 2025 | 1 |
| 14.0 | 0 | Leeds | 20 Jun 2025 | 1 |
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