No Bumrah, no problem for India as Siraj steps up

By Admin

05 Jul, 2025

Edgbaston witnessed a hero in blue, not named Bumrah, but Siraj   charging in with heart, rhythm, and redemption.

Mohammed Siraj might not carry the same aura as Jasprit Bumrah, but at Edgbaston, he carried India's hopes with pride and power. His six-wicket haul wasn’t just a statistical high; it was poetic justice for a bowler who’s long bowled his heart out without always being rewarded on the scorecard.

In Bumrah’s absence, many wondered how India’s pace attack would fare. But Siraj, assuming the mantle of seniority, was ready. He opened the third day with a double-strike and returned with the second new ball to pile on the damage. His final figures were not just numbers – they were a statement.

Interestingly, the stats paint a compelling story of Siraj’s rise in independence. In 23 Tests alongside Bumrah, Siraj averaged 33.82. Without Bumrah in 15 matches, his average dips impressively to 25.20. Strip both Bumrah and Shami from the picture   Siraj thrives even more, averaging a sharp 22.27 in 12 such games. When questioned about this oddity mid-match, Siraj simply smiled and embraced the responsibility.

This isn't about being better without Bumrah, but about rising when the team needs you the most. As a third-choice pacer, roles can get blurred   containment over aggression. But as the leader of the attack, Siraj shines with clarity.

Siraj may lack the mystery of Bumrah’s action or Shami’s seam, but he brings his own arsenal   a teasing outswinger, a sharp wobble seam delivery, and the undying grit of someone who’s faced more than just batsmen on his journey to the top. He was sharp in Australia, though his numbers   20 wickets at 31.15   didn’t scream domination. His overall Test average was 31.83 heading into this match, a number not truly reflective of his control and consistency.

Fast forward to Edgbaston, the pitch flat, the ball soft, and the stakes high. Yet, Siraj delivered. Not by drastically changing his methods, but by subtly shifting his line   straighter, attacking the stumps more. His "channel" deliveries dropped from 47.5% in Leeds to 42.9%, while his straight-line deliveries jumped to 33.8%. These small tweaks made a big difference.

Despite bowling the fewest overs among the seamers (barring Prasidh Krishna’s bouncer-heavy spell), Siraj projected 28 deliveries to hit the stumps   a clear sign of his aggressive intent. He bagged three wickets in that area alone and made the most of the false shots, converting 26 of them into six wickets   compared to just two from 69 at Headingley.

Siraj knows how cricket works   it's messy, sometimes unfair. But he keeps running in, Test after Test, wicket or no wicket. "I’ve been waiting for a year for a five-for," he told Jio Hotstar with emotion in his voice. This six-for, on a slow, lifeless English pitch, meant more than just numbers. It was a long-awaited reward, finally earned.

So yes, there was no Bumrah. But for India, there was Siraj. And for a day at Edgbaston, that was more than enough.