No Jassi bhai, no problem: Workhorse Siraj steps up for India again

India Today

5 days ago

"I only believe in Jassi bhai because he is a game-changer." Remember that line from last year's T20 World Cup final in Barbados? It captured a truth many Indian fans have long believed: Mohammed Siraj thrives when Jasprit Bumrah is around. Since making his debut in 2017, the fiery fast bowler from Hyderabad has been the Robin to Bumrah's Batman.But when Bumrah isn't around?advertisementA fan quipped: "Siraj, when Jassi bhai is not there, only believes in Siraj bhai."
Apt, isn't it?And time and again, that belief has turned into something special.On a gloomy Friday at The Oval in London, Siraj showed — once again — that he's not just a sidekick. In the absence of the spearhead of India's attack, the 31-year-old rose to the occasion and told the cricketing world: 'I've got this.'ENGLAND'S MORNING, INDIA'S HORRORBy lunch on Day 2, it seemed India had made a tactical blunder by not fielding Bumrah for the series-deciding fifth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. After being bowled out for a below-par 224, India's pace trio of Siraj, Akash Deep and Prasidh Krishna were being carted around the park by England, who racked up 109 runs in just 16 overs.| Oval Test, Day 2 Highlights - Scorecard |The pitch was green. The sky was grey. These were the most bowler-friendly conditions of the series. Yet, India's pacers were wayward.Siraj, in particular, bowled just four overs in the first session and leaked 31 runs. Akash Deep got the wicket of Ben Duckett, but only after conceding 46 in his seven overs. Prasidh gave away 31 in five.The lines were poor. The lengths, worse. Siraj was drifting too wide, rarely making the batters play, forgetting the golden rule: bring the stumps into play.It looked like India had been out-thought and out-picked. No Bumrah. No extra seamer. England were Bazballing — and India were on the ropes.THEN SIRAJ BHAI BELIEVED IN SIRAJ BHAIRemoved from the attack after the seventh over, Siraj didn't get the ball again until the 25th. By then, England were 142 for 2, with Zak Crawley back in the pavilion thanks to a good one from Prasidh.But this time, Siraj had zoned in.He returned with renewed purpose and immediate reward. In his very first over of the second spell, he got one to jag back savagely. Ollie Pope, England's stand-in captain, was beaten all ends up by the sharp seam movement and late pace. Pinned in front. Uproar in the stands. India were back.Mohammed Siraj cranks up the pressure #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/EQftCxxor2— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 1, 2025And Siraj? He wasn't done.He bowled an eight-over spell full of venom, regularly clocking over 140 kph. It was a monumental effort — especially for the only Indian bowler to have played all five Tests in the series. And then came the prize: the wicket of Joe Root, trapped LBW by a delivery that nipped in after pitching.Soon after, he got the wicket of Jacob Bethell, Ben Stokes's replacement, with a ripping inswinging yorker.Siraj's second session figures? Eight overs, 35 runs, three wickets.Joe Root undone by a fired-up Mohammed Siraj #SonySportsNetwork #ENGvIND #NayaIndia #DhaakadIndia #TeamIndia #ExtraaaInnings | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/2L3DU4o3h7— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 1, 2025Those three strikes wrested momentum back for India. Add two more from Prasidh, and by the tea break, the tone had shifted. What looked like a potential 150-run deficit was held to just 23.From 109 for 1, England collapsed to 247 all out.The final wicket? Appropriately, it was Siraj again, knocking over Harry Brook for a gritty fifty to end the innings.advertisementThis wasn't a one-off. Just a few weeks ago in Birmingham, Siraj took seven wickets — including a six-for — to help India to their only win in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy so far. Bumrah was rested. Siraj stepped up, once again combining with Akash Deep to bowl India to a famous away victory.And this belief in big moments? It goes all the way back to his maiden series. Think Gabba, 2021. Only his third Test. Siraj picked up five against the mighty Aussies and scripted one of India's greatest overseas Test wins.NUMBERS DON'T LIEOverallWith Bumrah: 74 wickets in 25 matches at 35.00Without Bumrah: 44 wickets in 16 matches at 25.59Overseas/Neutral venuesWith Bumrah: 64 wickets in 19 matches at 33.90Without Bumrah: 35 wickets in 8 matches at 24.08Since Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25With Bumrah: 27 wickets in 8 Tests at 38.96Without Bumrah: 11 wickets in 2 Tests at 19.36Three of Siraj's five-wicket hauls in Tests have come when Bumrah hasn't played. That's no coincidence.HEART AND CRAFTIt hasn't been a smooth ride. Siraj, now with Gujarat Titans, admitted he was physically and mentally drained after the demanding tour of Australia. He wasn't picked for the Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year — a decision that, in hindsight, gave him much-needed rest.advertisementBut in England, he's come back roaring. Across eight innings in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, Siraj has bowled 155.2 overs — the most by any Indian bowler.Yet here he was, in the final Test of a draining series, still cranking it up past 140 clicks and charging in with the same hunger.Much of the credit went to Siraj's 'big heart' and deservedly so. But it wasn't just courage. It was craft too.In the second session on Friday, Siraj adjusted his lengths, honed his lines, and maximised the subtle movement of the old Dukes ball. He used wobble seam as variation. He set batters up with gentle away swingers before unleashing that sharp nip-backer.Cheteshwar Pujara, who's watched Siraj evolve from Brisbane to The Oval, explained it best: "At the last moment, there is a flick of the wrist. He is trying to push the ball in. The seam suggests it will go away from the right-hander, but after pitching, it nips back. The nip back happens so quickly, you don't have time.'advertisementFormer pacer Varun Aaron added: "He should place more trust in his wobble seam deliveries. Ever since he's discovered his outswing, he goes to it too soon. He floats it a bit when trying to swing it away. But when he uses his wobble seam, he bowls it with so much more energy.'No, Siraj may not blow away opposition with the new ball in the first session of a series opener. He isn't the magician that Bumrah is with the new ball. But give him a battle, give him a scrap, and he turns into something else.Time and again, Mohammed Siraj has shown that belief in himself is enough. Enough to turn a session. Enough to shift momentum in a Test. Sometimes, it's all India needs.- EndsMust Watch