- August 10, 2025
If you’ve followed Indian Test cricket closely over the past couple of years, you might have noticed a strange (and oddly fascinating) pattern—Mohammed Siraj seems to turn into an absolute beast when Jasprit Bumrah isn’t playing.
No, this is not a conspiracy theory that has been fabricated by overly excited supporters. The numbers have supported this. That’s a staggering 25.1, at the same time having four five-wicket hauls. And that’s below his career average of 31.05.
So why is Siraj suddenly bowling like a man possessed when India’s pace spearhead is missing? Let’s dig into three big reasons.
The “Main Man” Mental Switch
Siraj is one of those bowlers who thrives on responsibility. When he feels the opportunity, it’s like light going through his body. He will play the role perfectly when he knows Bumrah isn’t around to handle the pressure of the new ball. All of a sudden, he isn’t the support bowler any longer. He is the main attraction.
Think about it. Bumrah is the first option when he is playing. Siraj has an opportunity to bowl in pressure situations, but his job is to build pressure rather than take wickets. Siraj knows the captain will expect him to do wonders, and he often uses that as motivation.
We’ve seen him talk openly about mental preparation—remember when he said he pumped himself up before a big Test by setting “Believe” as his phone wallpaper? That’s the kind of small but powerful mental trigger that can turn a good bowler into a match-winner.
The Role of Conditions
Stats don’t exist in a vacuum. When you break down Siraj’s “Bumrah-less” performances, you notice a pattern—many of them have come in conditions that suit fast bowlers more.
Port of Spain and Brisbane have provided him with the bounce and seam movement needed to bowl aggressively. Even within Bangladesh, where wickets don’t favour pace bowls, Siraj bowled aggressive short spells that catered to his strength.
Another major explanation for his lack of woeful performances is that, in Tests with Bumrah, many of those matches have been played out in conditions that are effectively more batting-friendly or spin-dominated by nature (think about flat Indian decks where fast bowlers on are always glorified ball-shiners while the spinners take all the applause). That skews the conditions.
More Overs, More Chances, More Impact
Cricket is as much about opportunity as it is about skill. Without Bumrah, Siraj naturally bowls more overs. More overs mean more chances to make something happen—and for a rhythm bowler like him, that’s gold.
Siraj is a workhorse. He thrives in long spells, hitting the deck hard and keeping that nagging line and length going until a batter cracks. In Bumrah’s absence, captains tend to give Siraj longer bursts with the new ball and then bring him back for key spells later in the innings. That sustained usage gives him multiple windows to create breakthroughs.
It also changes the way batters approach him. When Bumrah’s playing, opposition lineups often plan to “survive” Bumrah and then look to score off Siraj. Without Bumrah, Siraj is the threat—and batters are forced into mistakes trying to counter him.
Mohammed Siraj’s better numbers without Jasprit Bumrah aren’t a mystery once you look closer. It’s a mix of mental elevation, favourable conditions, and the sheer volume of opportunities he gets when the leader of India’s pace attack is missing.
What do you think—does Siraj’s “no-Bumrah” boost come more from mindset or from the conditions he’s played in?
