“My performance always grows”- Mohammed Siraj on why he does better in absence of Jasprit Bumrah

With an incredible 23 wickets, India's Mohammed Siraj was the leading wicket-taker during the England visit. Siraj became India's top player, shouldering much of the responsibility, particularly during games when Jasprit Bumrah wasn't participating.

The management of the Indian team had already made the decision to restrict Bumrah's availability to three games prior to the commencement of the tour. The biggest surprise, though, was how much Siraj improved his performance without Bumrah.

“When I get an opportunity to shoulder responsibility”—MohammedSiraj on shining without Jasprit Bumrah

His crowning performance was the Oval Test, where Siraj bowled tirelessly and picked five wickets in the second innings as India defended 374 runs and won the game by six runs to level the series 2-2.

India won a remarkable Test match thanks to Siraj, who took on the pressure of being the senior bowler and breathed fire against the England hitters while Bumrah was not around.

“When I get an opportunity to shoulder responsibility, even if you look at a mundane series, my performance always grows. Responsibility gives me a different kind of joy and boosts my confidence. I told you at Edgbaston that people are talking about me, and it's time to make all that talk stop. I usually am very aware of what I'm doing and do not pay heed to what people are saying because people do not know my struggle. Despite that, I thought it was time to stop such talk because it was getting too much,” Siraj told RevSportz.

Siraj emphasized that he has greater faith in himself to support the squad and has even told his colleagues the same, which is what helps him produce better outcomes when Bumrah is not around.

“With Jassi Bhai (Jasprit Bumrah) not being there due to his back injury and his workload being managed, I tried my bit to keep the positivity in the bowling unit. Whenever I was talking to my teammates, Akash Deep and all, I was trying to spread the belief that we can do it. We can repeat what we have done already,” Siraj explained.

Mohammed Siraj has not been named in India’s Asia Cup 2025 squad and will get adequate rest until the West Indies Test series in October.

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