The Curious Case Of Mohammed Siraj: How Can India Pacer Improve His Performance In Home Tests?

Debashis Sarangi∙ Updated: Oct 23 2024, 3:40 PM | 3 Min Read

Mohammed Siraj hasn't been quite effective at home [Source: PTI]

As India aim for redemption in the must-win second Test against New Zealand, questions are being raised over Mohammed Siraj's place in the playing XI. The fast bowler didn't have a great outing with the ball in Bengaluru, managing only two wickets in 25 overs. 

Under Rohit Sharma's leadership, India had a poor start to the home series against New Zealand, losing the first Test at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. After bowling India out for a paltry 46-run total in the first innings, the visitors showcased their incredible batting attributes, posting 402 runs, thanks to Rachin Ravindra's batting masterclass. 

Barring Jasprit Bumrah, none of the Indian bowlers was effective in countering New Zealand's spirited batting unit. Mohammed Siraj, in particular, received massive backlash for a dip in his wicket-taking ability. 

Why Is Mohammed Siraj's Home Performance A Headache For India?

(Mohammed Siraj's performance in home and away Tests)

As mentioned in the table above, Mohammed Siraj has much better stats in overseas Tests, scalping 61 wickets at an average of 28.66 and a strike rate of 52.02. However, he hasn't been able to replicate similar success on home soil, managing only 19 wickets in 24 innings at a worrisome average and strike rate. So, his underperformance in home Tests is definitely a headache for team India, who desperately need a win in Pune to stay alive in the series. 

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How Can Siraj Improve His Numbers In Home Tests? 

Renowned for his ability to seam the ball, Siraj is a valuable asset for India in Test matches. Barring the conventional out-swinger, Siraj bowls a three-quarter delivery, which generally moves away from the left-handed batters with the angle. He can also hit the deck, making himself a complete package as a fast bowler. 

However, his tendency to hit the back-of-the-length far too often has led to his ineffectiveness at home. Hitting the shorter side of the good length allows the batters to avoid getting an outside edge, as they don't get tentative enough to poke at it. This is precisely why Siraj went wicketless despite beating the outside edge multiple times on day five of the Bengaluru Test. 

So, moving on to the second Test, Siraj must change his length and go slightly fuller in order to create more doubts in the batters' minds. By going fuller, he can reduce the margin for error for the batters and make them play drives with hard hands. 

Furthermore, considering the potential abrasive conditions in Pune, the Hyderabad pacer should focus on reversing the old ball and targeting the stumps to bring LBWs and bowled dismissals into play. 

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