- August 4, 2025
Let’s face it—Mohammed Siraj might not be the most glamorous name in Indian cricket. He doesn’t have Bumrah’s star power, Shami’s seam bowling nous, or a cult status like Kohli or Rohit. But if you’ve been following the 2025 England vs India series closely over the past few test matches, he’s the one who’s done most of the heavy lifting: Siraj has sustained part of a bowling load on a tour where almost all of the other fast bowlers have felt like trailblazers and when so many of cricketing legends are absent. And only the other day, Nasser Hussain compared him to Darren Gough—the man credited with lifting England when they needed it most. That’s serious praise.
The Only Fast Bowler Still Standing
It’s not just fast bowling that is about speed; it has been about heart, too. And as far as the heart is concerned, Siraj is all heart. By the end of day 3 at The Oval, Siraj had already clocked an exhausting 159.1 overs—proof of his unmatched engine this series. No other fast bowler has bowled more in this series – Chris Woakes is injured and Jasprit Bumrah missed two matches – and he is still running in hard and showing great enthusiasm on pitches that provide little help for fast bowlers.
With 19 wickets at an average of 34.36, Siraj now sits level at the top of the 2025 England vs India series wicket charts —a quiet assassin leading the pack. That alone is enough to tell the story, but the how is more important than the how many. In the last over of Day 3, Siraj fired in a sizzling yorker that uprooted Crawley—pure drama, pure intent. Pure game-changer. Chef’s kiss. What a proper momentum shifter.
Captain’s Dream and the Darren Gough Comparison
So, why did Nasser Hussain feel the need to pull out the Gough card? Because he knows what it means to have a bowler who shows up when it matters, someone who doesn’t fade after one good session or let their shoulders drop after a bad one. In his Daily Mail column, Hussain wrote that Siraj “is the sort of bloke a captain loves.” And he’s right.
India’s team spirit has been resurrected time and again through the course of this series – Siraj has always been their go-to man. When India needed control, Siraj provided it. When they needed breakthroughs, Siraj manufactured them. When India’s attack looked flat, Siraj breathed fire into it. This is the hallmark of a bowler who impacts more than just wickets, but the entire team.
Holding the Fort in the Absence of Giants
Let’s not forget what India was up against. No Rohit Sharma. No Virat Kohli. Bumrah is missing games. Shardul underperforming. You’d expect a team like that to fold. Instead, they’ve taken the fight to England, pushing the series into a nail-biting finale.
According to Hussain, India has “won as many sessions as England, if not more,” despite losing big names before the first ball was bowled. That resilience? That’s where Siraj’s impact goes beyond numbers. His intensity is contagious. His fight is inspiring. He may not be the leader by designation, but on the field, he’s often leading the charge—literally.
Siraj is the man for India. Reliable. Fearless. Unshakably passionate. And if he helps India seal this series win at The Oval, don’t be surprised if we start talking about him as not just the workhorse, but the warhorse.
