Overhyped Or India's Linchpin; Siraj's Prowess In Jasprit Bumrah's Absence Decoded

Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah [Source: AP]

Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj destroyed England with a fiery spell, running through the hosts' batting order in the ongoing Test match at Edgbaston. Opening the bowling for India, Siraj bagged six crucial wickets for 70 runs, ensuring a valuable lead for the visitors in this match. 

Siraj's Contrasting Spells Make Fans Wonder

India are without their pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, having rested the talismanic pacer for the Edgbaston Test to manage his workload. With Bumrah warming the bench, the Indian fans weren't much hopeful of their team putting up a spirited effort against England's swashbucklers. 

However, the Mohammed Siraj-led pace attack defied the odds, restricting the Englishmen to 407 and helping India secure a crucial first-innings lead. 

Siraj had an ordinary game at Headingley, managing just two wickets for 173 runs across 41 overs. However, when India rested Bumrah for the second match, the Hyderabad pacer emerged as the leader of the pack, rattling the Englishmen with a six-wicket haul. 

His contrasting spells made cricket fanatics from worldwide compare his overall performance in the presence and absence of the lead seamer, Jasprit Bumrah. 

Siraj With Bumrah vs Siraj Without Bumrah: What Do The Numbers Tell?

As mentioned in the table above, raw statistics suggest that Mohammed Siraj has significantly better numbers as the leader of India's pace battery when the Men in Blue have rested Jasprit Bumrah. 

In the Tests that these players have played together, Bumrah has been India's best bowler with 111 wickets at an unbelievable average and strike rate. However, despite a higher average and strike rate, Siraj has statistically been India's second most successful bowler in such games. 

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Mohammed Siraj's Excellence As Leader Of India's Pace Attack

A few may argue that India has mostly played Bumrah in crucial matches, while resting him in home games where spinners play a major role. 

However, Siraj has faced quality opponents like Australia, England and New Zealand in Bumrah's absence, recording 26 wickets at a superb average of 26.57. 

He hasn't been used as a game-changer at home in expected lines; however, he has definitely upped his game in overseas Tests, realising his importance in Bumrah's absence. 

(Mohammed Siraj in away Tests in Bumrah's absence)

The aforementioned numbers signify Siraj's outstanding performance whenever India have rested Bumrah in an away Test. 

Have Siraj's Performances Helped India's Cause?

Whenever Siraj has led India's pace attack in Bumrah's absence, the Men in Blue have emerged victorious ten out of 15 times. Twenty-three out of Siraj's 39 wickets (roughly 59 per cent) have come in the winning cause, establishing him as the perfect man to spearhead the pace battery. 

Conclusion

It will be unfair to label Siraj as an ordinary bowler whenever he and Bumrah have played together. Probably, the opponents have adopted caution against Bumrah while attacking Siraj at the other end. 

However, it's pretty much clear that when Bumrah has missed out on selection, Siraj has perfectly done his job as India's lead seamer. Be it restricting the flow of runs or striking at crucial junctures, Siraj has done it all, proving himself a much better bowler in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah. 

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