Mohammed Siraj came into the World Cup as ICC’s number 1 ranked bowler in ODIs. His numbers were staggering – 54 wickets in 29 matches at an average of 18.61 while striking at every 23.5 balls. His economy rate was also superb – only 4.74. Siraj’s opening spell of 6/21 in the Asia Cup final which helped India dismiss the hosts Sri Lanka for just 50 runs, will reverberate with Indian fans.
However, his stats from the first 3 World Cup matches look pale. He’s taken 3 wickets at an average of 51 and an economy rate of 6.46. Even though the sample size is much smaller, he has clearly gone for runs when you compare him with the other bowlers on his team.
- Ashwin – 3.4 (10 overs)
- Bumrah – 3.44 (27 overs)
- Jadeja – 3.73 (27.5 overs)
- Kuldeep – 3.9 (30 overs)
- Thakur – 5.37 (8 overs)
- Pandya – 6.56 (16 overs)
It would be unfair to compare him (or anyone) with Jasprit Bumrah, who is a class apart. The spinners have been unplayable on all 3 wickets. Shardul Thakur has bowled little – the management seems to trust Pandya more than him.
Performance against Australia
He returned with figures of 1/26 in 6.3 overs against Australia. While he did not get any new ball wickets, he complimented Bumrah superbly at the start and helped to put pressure – 9 runs from 3 overs including a maiden over to Steve Smith. He dismissed Mitchell Starc in the final over and helped restrict the target to 200.
Tough day against Afghanistan
Against Afghanistan, he bowled a lot of half-volleys in the Powerplay which allowed the batters to free themselves with Bumrah being miserly at the other end. It was the most expensive spell of his career and he went wicketless as well, so you won’t get that very often from him.
Siraj’s impact against Pakistan
The right-arm seamer started terribly, conceding 18 from his first couple of overs. He bowled too full and didn’t get any movement, plus his lines were also off the mark. He pulled things back in the next 3 overs with the new ball and broke the opening partnership by dismissing Abdullah Shafique. Siraj was then brought back in the middle overs when Babar and Rizwan were set and looking to take Pakistan to a fighting total. However, he bowled a delivery that angled in and kept low as the Pakistan skipper looked to run it down to third man.
He bowls the outswinger and the wobble-seam ball regularly, but it was the cross-seam delivery that helped him get both wickets. So, while he went for 50 runs in 8 overs, he broke the opening stand with the new ball and got rid of the best opposition batter, which led to a monumental collapse. Job well done, I’d think.
Siraj as the strike bowler
I think he is too skilful to keep overpitching. It is most likely a team plan to want him to bowl full and look for wickets. They are using him as the strike bowler since Shami is not in the playing XI, without worrying about his economy rate since the rest of the attack can make up for it. He mentions a bowler can afford to go for a couple of boundaries early in the innings in the search of wickets since it is such a long format in a post-match interview.
Siraj also gets more bowled (29.8%) and LBW (12.5%) dismissals compared to the average fast bowler. The entire Indian bowling unit looks to attack the stumps a lot more as a whole. He also gets the ball to skid the ball when he’s bowling short, which makes him tricky to face on certain wickets.
The role of Siraj in the Indian bowling unit
So, the reasoning is simple. Siraj is a natural wicket-taker who has been given the role of attacking because of the defensive skills possessed by the rest of the Indian bowlers under these conditions. Even Siraj can adapt and change his lines and lengths if that is what the conditions demand on a particular day. When their bowling has an off day, they also have the batting strength to compensate, especially on flat wickets. We can’t wait to see what he’ll do in the match against England.
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