ICC World Cup 2023 | Mohammed Siraj - Records, Profile & SWOT Analysis

image-ln5twmnbSiraj's ODI records [OneCricket]

The non-stop franchise leagues all over the world have made cricket too friendly these days. However, there are still a few individuals who keep their angry persona on the field with sheer aggression, giving the spectators more pleasure. Mohammed Siraj, who has been reaping rewards for the Men in Blue for some time, fits this description.

With all due respect to Mohammed Shami, who had been the partner-in-crime for Jasprit Bumrah for a while, Siraj is a character who Bumrah badly needed to bowl in tandem in limited-overs cricket.It is interesting that nobody at any level had heard of Siraj before 2015 because up until then,he had never even bowled with a cricket ball. However, since 'Miya Bhai' became famous, he never failed to live up to the lofty expectations, and is still going upwards to this day.

Mohammed Siraj Player Profile

The son of an autorickshaw driver in Hyderabad, Siraj did not take much time to rise through the ranks. He bowled remarkably well during the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy season, taking 41 wickets in nine games to draw viewers' attention. The next season, his native IPL franchise - Sunrisers Hyderabad - signed him for a staggering INR 2.6 crore, propelling him to greater heights.

In order to further hone Siraj's abilities, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) acquired him during the IPL 2018 auction. Siraj received more opportunities for both club and country under Virat Kohli, and it worked perfectly for him as well as for his team.

Subsequently, Siraj established himself as the most reliable weapon wherever he played, and today he has become one of India’s most complete all-format fast bowlers.

Mohammed Siraj Records

Siraj's ODI bowling strike rate (24.62) is second among full members as well as associate nations. Amazing, isn't it? Considering there are many, for example, Sandeep Lamichhane, who can tear apart comparatively weaker opposition on any day, sits behind Siraj in this chart.

In Tests, Siraj has picked up 59 wickets in 21 matches at a strike rate of 55.5. However, his T20I numbers are not that great yet, having scalped 11 wickets in eight games at an economy rate of 9.18.

Despite that, Siraj's impeccable numbers in ODIs have made him the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world. Taking 54 wickets in 30 ODIs is not a joke, and Siraj has done that to establish himself as one of the most threatening bowlers in the world.

Format
Matches
Wickets
Average
Eco. Rate
Bow. SR
In ODIs (Overall)305420.014.8724.6
In India (ODIs)153017.204.5922.4


Mohammed Siraj SWOT Analysis

Strengths:

  • Ability to Swing & Seam: Only a handful of bowlers can be lethal with both swing and seam, and Siraj is one of them. And more significantly, Siraj’s primary weapon is the wobble seam, which he bowls with for fun in order to trouble the batters.
  • Never-say-die Attitude: Thanks to his unreal hunger for success, Siraj finds a way to succeed even on flat decks where bowlers seem helpless and get smacked. Because of this, he is a legitimate match-winner in every stadium where India will play in the World Cup.

Weaknesses:

  • Tends to overdo things: Occasionally, Siraj tries to experiment with the ball, which will cause him to start bowling poorly and go for runs in phases. This is the only area where Siraj needs to work at this point.

Opportunities:

  • More chances for wickets due to Bumrah caution: Due to his reputation, almost every opponent in the World Cup will play Jasprit Bumrah cautiously. However, it will also provide Siraj with the opportunity to pick up more wickets, making this the ideal scenario for him to be the main man for the Men in Blue to World Cup success.

Threats

  • Pressure of being the No. 1: Things go wrong when expectations are not met. Siraj, currently the No. 1 ODI bowler in the world, could face the same if he does not live up to the lofty standards early in the tournament. Given that India have strong backup fast bowlers, Siraj might even be benched at some point if he does not perform well.

Mohammed Siraj Player Ratings

  • Speed - 8/10
  • Accuracy - 8/10
  • Wicket-taking ability in powerplay - 9/10
  • Wicket-taking ability in middle overs - 9/10
  • Wicket-taking ability in death overs - 8/10
  • Economy Rate - 8.5/10
  • Experience - 7/10
  • Overall - 8.2/10