![Mohammed Siraj to lead Hyderabad [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768455596427_SirajRanjiTrophycaptain.jpg?type=hq)
Mohammed Siraj to lead Hyderabad [Source: AFP]
Hyderabad have named India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj as their red-ball captain for the remainder of the Ranji Trophy 2025–26 season. Siraj will replace Tilak Varma, who has been ruled out of India's limited overs series against New Zealand due to a testicular torsion.
Notably, Mohammed Siraj’s appointment comes soon after his return to India’s ODI side during the ongoing New Zealand series, in which he has featured.
Mohammed Siraj to lead for the first time
The leadership role appears to have been handed to Siraj due to his vast experience in the longer format, despite his having no prior exposure as a captain. His appointment could also be seen as a trial run, with an eye on naming him the permanent captain in the next Ranji Trophy season.
Although Mohammed Siraj has been announced as the skipper, he will not join the Hyderabad squad immediately, as their next fixture is against Mumbai on January 22.
By then, Siraj would have completed India’s NZ ODI series, which concludes on January 18, allowing him time to recover and prepare before taking charge of the side.
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Siraj's comeback in the ODI setup
India pacer Mohammed Siraj made a comeback in the New Zealand ODI series after being dropped from the South Africa ODIs.
While he delivered a solid performance in the first ODI on January 11 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara, picking up two wickets for 40 runs, Siraj's second outing in Rajkot was not up to the mark as he went wicketless and conceded 41 runs.
Earlier, in the Vijay Hazare Trophy Elite 2025–26, Siraj showed good form and made an impact despite playing only three matches. He picked up seven wickets while bowling at an economy rate of 4.36 and a strike rate of 24.00.
His standout performances came against Bengal, where he claimed a four-wicket haul, and against Jammu and Kashmir, where he took two wickets while conceding 45 runs.
Mohammed Siraj's domestic and recent Test career
The 31-year-old Indian quick has played 28 red-ball matches in first-class cricket, claiming 109 wickets at an economy rate of 3.32, with best figures of 8 for 59 in an innings. In List A cricket, Siraj has been equally impressive, picking up 163 wickets from 97 matches at a low economy rate of 5.16.
Known for his fitness and durability, Siraj has been a workhorse for India. With Hyderabad still in contention to qualify from Group D, his leadership could prove decisive for the team.
Siraj’s inclusion in the Ranji Trophy marks his return to the whites after the South Africa series, where he picked up six wickets in four innings. Earlier, during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in 2025, he claimed 23 wickets from nine matches, producing several noteworthy spells that included five-wicket and four-wicket hauls.
However, he had limited appearances in the 2024–25 Ranji Trophy Elite season, playing just two matches and taking four wickets at an economy rate of 2.79.
