With remarkable red-ball statistics, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal is drawing comparisons to Bumrah — but is he prepared for Test-level challenges?
Bengal are set to play Jammu & Kashmir in the semi-final of the 2025-2026 Ranji Trophy on Sunday. They have a formidable pace attack comprising Mohammed Shami, Mukesh Kumar and Akash Deep who all have played Tests for India. However, another uncapped fast bowler in this pace attack, Suraj Sindhu Jaiswal, is steadily making his presence felt despite the presence of stalwarts in the bowling line-up.
Suraj has picked up 20 wickets at an average of 20.35 in six matches – the third-best bowling figures by a Bengal bowler this Ranji season. He bagged 29 wickets at an average of 17.96 in the 2024-2025 Ranji season which was the best performance by a Bengal bowler in that particular edition. Moreover, in the 2023-2024 season, he was Bengal’s highest wicket-taker with 31 wickets at an average of 13.06. Overall, in 19 First-Class matches, he has 83 wickets at an average of 17.51 with four five-wicket hauls.
Suraj has cemented his place in Bengal’s celebrated bowling line-up with consistent performances over the last two Ranji seasons. Even alongside stalwarts like Shami, he has shown no signs of being overawed, producing his best year after year.
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Maintaining line & length is Suraj’s mantra
Suraj comes on as first change after the opening spells from Shami and Mukesh. The opposition hardly gets any breathing space after the Shami-Mukesh burst, as Suraj keeps things tight and does not release the pressure on the batters. He has a knack for getting his line and length right across varied pitches, consistently keeping batters in two minds about whether to play forward or back to his hard-length deliveries.
Suraj possesses a smooth bowling action and follow-through, and he prefers operating close to the stumps to consistently hit a hard length around the fourth-stump line, making life difficult for batters. He also has a sharp off-cutter that darts in after pitching.
Batter turned bowler
Suraj was born in Birati, West Bengal, though his ancestral roots trace back to Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. He is the youngest among four brothers and one sister. Initially, Suraj began his cricketing journey as a batter. However, during his first cricket camp, when a coach asked him to try bowling, he enjoyed it so much that it soon became his primary skill, with batting turning into a secondary one. That said, he is no mug with the bat. Suraj bats at No. 5 for Bengal and even has a First-Class century to his name.
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Tough times & big dreams
However, Suraj contemplated quitting cricket in 2023 following his father’s passing, as financial burdens weighed heavily on the family. Guidance from his coach, though, convinced him to persevere, work harder on his game, and continue pursuing his cricketing dream. The unwavering support of his family further strengthened his resolve to achieve his goals. A few Ranji seasons later, Suraj now has 83 wickets in 19 First-Class matches, rubbing shoulders with India stars and holding his own through consistent all-round performances.
Suraj considers former South Africa bowler Dale Steyn as his role model. In a recent interview with Sportskeeda, he said, “I love the spells Dale Steyn bowled in Test cricket. I used to look at him bowl in awe and tell myself that I wanted to be like him. I learnt a lot just watching him bowl – bowling his heart out and with that aggression.”
Suraj also said that he wants to be an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya. “My target is to become the best all-rounder in the country. I love Hardik Pandya’s hitting power, mindset, ability to absorb pressure and close out tight matches. There are only a handful of all-rounders in the country. And if I can further develop my skills, it will be beneficial for both me and Bengal,” he said.
Suraj is shining at the moment with the ball, and Bengal will rely heavily on him in the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 semi-final against Jammu & Kashmir scheduled to take place at the Bengal Cricket Academy Grounds from Sunday, February 15. His ability to maintain tight lines and extract movement off the surface could prove decisive in swinging momentum, with a place in the final at stake.
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