- August 5, 2025
You know that one player who just refuses to stop? The one who keeps charging in, over and over, while others are on their knees, gasping for breath? That’s Mohammed Siraj for India this series. Former England pacer Steve Harmison said it best — “Siraj never looked like running out of steam.” And he wasn’t exaggerating. Across five Tests, 185.3 overs, multiple match situations, and mounting pressure — Siraj kept showing up, full throttle, full heart. So, what exactly made Siraj stand out in this marathon of a series? Let’s take a closer look at what truly powered India’s unstoppable pace machine.
The Engine That Never Quit
There’s stamina—and then there’s whatever Mohammed Siraj runs on. While Jasprit Bumrah sat out a couple of Tests and other pacers rotated in and out, Siraj was the one constant in India’s pace attack, grinding through all five Tests without a pause.
However, it wasn’t just about showing up – it was about producing high-intensity spells consistently, even on days in which the ball was not doing a lot. Process that – flat decks at Manchester & Edgbaston, not much help from the pitch, and Siraj was still able to inject life into the attack. Workload-wise? Over 185 – that is the sort of figure that makes your hamstrings hurt just thinking about it.
Skillset That Matched the Heart
It’s easy to talk about effort and energy. But don’t mistake Siraj for just a workhorse. The man’s got serious skill. And he wasn’t just randomly bowling those; he knew when and how to use each of them.
Harmison, a former fast bowler himself, broke it down perfectly — when the ball’s swinging, the trick is to control the line. Too wide, and it’s a freebie. Too straight, and you risk being punished. Siraj consistently hit that fourth stump channel, asking questions every single delivery. That’s not just effort — that’s elite-level precision under fatigue.
And all of this occurred following four exhausting Test matches. While most bowlers would be hanging on by a thread, Siraj arrived with a fresh batch of tricks. It is the ability to adapt, to stay mentally strong regardless of physical fatigue, that separates the good from the great.
Siraj: More Than Just a Wicket-Taker
Yes, he took wickets, important ones — like the toe-crushing yorker that sent Gus Atkinson back in the last hour. Siraj was the bowler Rohit Sharma turned to once again when it ultimately counted. The bowler who stepped up when the going got tough, who didn’t mope around when things got tiring, who didn’t require conditions to be in his favour.
There’s something to be said about players who deliver when the ball isn’t reversing, when the pitch is dead, and when there’s no crowd buzzing. Siraj brought energy from within and shared it with his team. That’s why Harmison called him the most consistent bowler of the series.
When India needed someone to hold one end, to break a partnership, or to lead the charge in the final session, it was always Siraj. Not because he was the fastest. Not because he had the best stats. But because he was always ready. Always in the fight.
Mohammed Siraj may not have the flashiest bowling average or the most five-fors in the series, but if you watched the games, you felt his presence every time he had the ball. From Day 1 at Edgbaston to the final wicket at The Oval — Siraj was there, pounding the turf, never looking like he was going to stop.
