Mohammed Siraj strikes per 65 balls in Tests in 2024 while Jasprit Bumrah at every 31 balls. What's ailing Mohammed Siraj's bowling in home conditions?
There was a time when Mohammed Siraj was the leader of the pack and Jasprit Bumrah was recovering from back surgery. Siraj bowled some brilliant spells overseas, helping India post a few memorable victories abroad. His first five-wicket haul came against Australia in Brisbane in 2021, which India won to bag the series. He returned figures of 5/73 in the match. He followed that up with a six-wicket haul against South Africa in Cape Town in 2024 to help India post a memorable victory.
But Siraj’s overseas numbers are way ahead of his bowling figures at home. Hence, despite being a hard-working and passionate bowler, his numbers or lack thereof at home cut a sorry figure on the young Siraj.
Here is a look at Siraj’s bowling performances in both home and away conditions.
Innings | Wkts | Avg | SR | Eco | 5-for | |
Home in 2021 | 6 | 6 | 16.70 | 35.00 | 2.86 | 0 |
Home in 2023 | 4 | 1 | 73.00 | 144.00 | 3.04 | 0 |
Home in 2024 | 12 | 10 | 41.40 | 65.00 | 3.82 | 0 |
Home Overall | 22 | 17 | 34.50 | 59.10 | 3.51 | 0 |
Away | 30 | 56 | 27.85 | 51.40 | 3.24 | 3 |
Career | 54 | 78 | 29.93 | 53.50 | 3.35 | 3 |
Siraj’s performances at home do not match up to his heroics in overseas conditions. While he has taken 56 wickets in 30 innings away, he has just 17 wickets at home in 22 innings. His bowling average, strike rate, and even economy are much better away compared to at home. Also, a look at his performances at home every year, except in 2021, when he played his first Test at home, shows a high average and strike rate, meaning he has been struggling to pick up wickets at home. He averages 73 and strikes at 144 in 2023 at home, picking up just 1 wicket. In 2024, he averages 41.40 and strikes at 65 in 2024, taking 10 wickets in 12 innings. Overall, he averages 34.50 and strikes at 59.10 at home.
Factors behind underperformance at home
There could be many factors leading to his unimpressive bowling figures at home in 2023 and 2024, showing his lack of numbers in the wickets column and the high average and strike rate. First, the home conditions are not suitable to his style of bowling as the India spin combo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja dominate and do the bulk of the wicket-taking at home. Siraj mostly bowls to take the shine off and contain the opposition batters. His numbers at home convey his struggles to get purchase off the wickets in spin-friendly home conditions and be the threatening bowler he is away from home.
However, his new-ball partner Jasprit Bumrah comes off with some brilliant bowling figures at home. In 2024, Bumrah averages 15.4 and strikes at 30.6 at home while taking 30 wickets in 12 innings. On the other hand, Siraj this year averages 41.40 and strikes at 65.00 while taking 10 wickets in 12 innings. Bumrah has brought out his skills, variations, and experience to the fore when bowling in home conditions, realising he has to set up batters and bowl cleverly to take up wickets at home.
Even in the just concluded home series against Bangladesh, Akash Deep, who was the third seamer in the XI, showed much better penetration, discipline, and variation compared to Siraj.
Here’s a look at the seamers’ performances in the India vs Bangladesh Test series.
Pacers | Innings | Wkts | Avg | SR | Eco |
Jasprit Bumrah | 4 | 11 | 12.81 | 26.72 | 2.87 |
Akash Deep | 4 | 5 | 20.40 | 40.80 | 3.00 |
Mohammed Siraj | 4 | 4 | 34.50 | 61.75 | 3.35 |
The numbers suggest Siraj’s struggles in the Bangladesh Test series at home, while the other two seamers were on the money. This has been a worrying trend for Siraj at home, and the next three Tests against New Zealand at home are a litmus test for him. A good performance at home against New Zealand will boost his confidence in the important Test series Down Under.
What’s the way ahead?
Mohammed Siraj excels in conditions that are even little conducive for pace bowling, and hence, he enjoys a superior record away compared to at home. But to be a champion bowler, Siraj needs to up his game even in conditions not favourable to his style of bowling. Just like how Bumrah has become an all-condition bowler, Siraj also must thrive for that. Siraj needs to get back to the drawing board and think about his game, how he can bring in variations at home, and how he can set up batters and out-think them to be a threatening bowler at home. Taking Bumrah’s help and reading his mind will go a long way in making Siraj an all-condition bowler.
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