Mohammed Siraj Biography: The Rising Star of Indian Bowling
This Post presents the “Mohammed Siraj Biography”. Among Indian cricket’s most potential fast bowlers is Mohammed Siraj. He was born in Hyderabad on March 13, 1994. He is renowned for his exceptional velocity and swing when bowling in all game types, even when the team is applying pressure. His steady play in the Ranji Trophy, where he benefited Hyderabad, caught the attention of the selectors and gave him the opportunity to play for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017. After that, he developed into an important member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore, where his fast-bowling abilities were developed. He was instrumental in helping the team defeat Australia in the 2020–21 Test series.
He became a role model for young cricket players because of his commitment to fast bowling for the Indian National Team. Nevertheless, he keeps developing and refining his skill to make Indian fast bowling more promising going forward. His early life, cricket records, statistics, personal and family information, controversy, comparison with other notable players, and some obscure or little-known facts are all included in this biography.
Early Life
On March 13, 1994, Mohammed Siraj was born in Hyderabad, Telangana. His mother Shabana Begum is a homemaker, while his father Mohammed Ghouse drove autorickshaws. Siraj’s family was extremely impoverished, thus he had to deal with many financial difficulties. His parents, though, have always encouraged his love of cricket. He frequently used a tennis ball to improve his bowling technique in Hyderabad’s tight alleyways. He had the opportunity to practice at Hyderabad’s Charminar Cricket Club one day. His raw velocity and lengthy spell bowling were discovered by the coaches and selectors. Despite not having had official training yet, his innate talent enabled him to rise swiftly in the local cricket league.
In 2015, he rose to fame when he was selected to play for the Hyderabad Ranji team and finished third in the league with 41 wickets in 9 matches. His fast bowling and aggressive style of play helped Sunrisers Hyderabad make an impression in the Indian Premier League later in 2017.
Cricket Career Stats
Mohammed SirajBiography, Player Profile
Attribute
Details
Batting Style
Right-handed
Bowling Style
Right-arm fast-medium
Wicket-keeping?
No
Jersey Number
13 (ODI and T20I), 3 (Test)
Coach/Mentor
Bharat Arun
Cricket Debut
• ODI Debut: January 15, 2019, against Australia at Adelaide Oval.
• Test Debut: December 26, 2020, against Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
• T20I Debut: November 4, 2017, against New Zealand at Rajkot.
• IPL Debut: April 17, 2017, for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Delhi Daredevils at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad.
Mohammed Siraj Biography, Team Information
Year
Team Name
Level
2015-present
Hyderabad
Domestic
2017-present
Sunrisers Hyderabad (IPL)
Domestic
2020-present
Royal Challengers Bangalore (IPL)
Domestic
2017-2018
India A
International
2019-present
India B
International
2020-present
India National Team
International
Bowling Stats
Format
Match
Ins
Balls
Mdn
Runs
W
BB
Econ Rate
Avg
SR
5W
Test
27
50
3930
122
2197
74
6 /15
3.35
29.7
53.1
3
ODI
50
49
2520
32
2025
85
6/33
5.18
24
27.8
1
T20I
30
30
720
2
920
42
4/15
7.67
21.9
17.14
0
IPL
60
60
1380
4
1865
75
4/32
8.1
24.86
18.4
0
Batting Stats
Criteria
ODI
Test
T20
IPL
Number of Matches
32
21
18
55
Total Runs
94
98
25
48
Average Runs
7.23
4.9
4.16
5.33
Strike Rate
71.21
35.25
78.12
61.53
Highest Score
15
14*
10
12
100s
0
0
0
0
50s
0
0
0
0
6s
0
0
0
0
4s
8
6
2
5
Catches
5
8
2
12
Records
Year
Match Name
Played Against
Description of Records/Award
2018
ODI vs. Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Best Bowling Figures: 3/29
2019
Test vs. Australia
Australia
Best Bowling Figures: 5/73 in a Test Match
2020
IPL vs. Rajasthan Royals
Rajasthan Royals
Best Bowling Figures: 4/32
2021
Test vs. England
England
Match-winning Performance: 8/119 in the series
2022
ODI vs. South Africa
South Africa
Best Bowling Figures: 4/34
2023
IPL vs. Kolkata Knight Riders
Kolkata Knight Riders
Best Bowling Figures: 4/22
2024
ODI vs. New Zealand
New Zealand
Notable Performance: 3/45 in a high-pressure match
During the IPL 2020, Siraj was involved in a heated exchange with an opposing player.
2021
Alleged Misconduct
Allegations surfaced about his conduct in a domestic match, but they were later dismissed.
2022
Umpire Argument
Siraj had a verbal altercation with an umpire during an ODI match, leading to a warning.
2023
Social Media Backlash
Received criticism on social media for his comments about team selection, leading to a clarification.
2024
Fitness Concerns
Faced scrutiny over his fitness levels before a major tournament, which was addressed by the team management.
Comparison with other distinct Bowlers
Criteria
Mohammed Siraj
Jasprit Bumrah
Cummins
Shaheen Afridi
Kagiso Rabada
Mitchell Starc
Player Type
Fast Bowler
Fast Bowler
Fast Bowler
Fast Bowler
Fast Bowler
Fast Bowler
Comparison Reason
Fast Bowling Performance
Premier Death Over Specialist
Leading Test Bowler
Prominent Young Talent
Top-Ranked Fast Bowler
Renowned for Pace and Bounce
Best Bowling Figures
4/32 (ODI)
6/19 (ODI)
6/79 (Test)
6/51 (Test)
7/112 (Test)
6/43 (Test)
Career Average (Bowling)
29.45 (ODI)
24.77 (ODI)
27.02 (Test)
25.32 (Test)
22.25 (Test)
27.23 (Test)
Key Strength
Consistent Pace
Death Over Skills
Swing and Bounce
Pace and Swing
Pace and Bounce
Pace and Bounce
Impact in Matches
Effective in all formats
Crucial in T20s and ODIs
Leading Test Matches
Key Player in T20s and ODIs
Dominant in Test Matches
Effective in all formats
Unknown/Lesser-known facts
Mohammed Siraj was born in a humble family in Hyderabad on March 13, 1994.
His father, Mohammed Ghouse, was an auto-rickshaw driver, and Siraj’s cricket journey was a dream for his whole family.
Siraj’s first cricket bat was gifted by a relative, and he used to practice with tennis balls in the streets of Hyderabad.
Growing up, he couldn’t afford professional cricket gear, so he used second-hand equipment until his Under-19 days.
His childhood coach, Karthik Udupa, was the one who spotted his talent and pushed him towards professional cricket.
Siraj was a batsman initially, but he switched to fast bowling at the age of 18.
He bowled his first over as a fast bowler in a local Hyderabad club match and took three wickets. That’s when he realized his true potential.
His mother, Shabana Begum, has always been his emotional support, especially when his father passed away just before his debut in Australia.
Siraj didn’t even consider playing cricket professionally until he was in his late teens. It wasn’t until 2015 that he got serious about his career.
He made his first-class debut for Hyderabad in the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy, taking four wickets in his first match.
In the 2016–17 Ranji season, Siraj grabbed attention by taking 41 wickets in nine matches, making him the third-highest wicket-taker that season.
Siraj was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2017 IPL auction for ₹2.6 crores, a life-changing moment for him and his family.
In his first IPL season, Siraj took 10 wickets in six matches and was praised for his speed and accuracy.
The very next year, Royal Challengers Bangalore picked him up in the 2018 IPL auction, and he has been a key bowler for them ever since.
Siraj’s debut for India in T20 Internationals came in November 2017 against New Zealand. He took the wicket of Kane Williamson, one of the world’s best batters.
When Siraj made his Test debut for India in Australia in 2020, he had lost his father just a month earlier. He stayed with the team and dedicated his performance to his dad.
His emotional moment during the national anthem on his Test debut in Melbourne was one of the highlights of that series.
He became the first Indian bowler to take five wickets at the Gabba, Brisbane, helping India win the series against Australia in 2021.
Siraj’s 5-wicket haul in Brisbane included big names like Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith, proving his mettle as a world-class bowler.
Many fans may not know, but Siraj was heavily trolled for his performance in the 2019 IPL. He faced immense criticism, but he came back stronger.
His mother played a huge role in keeping him motivated when he faced criticism, telling him, “No matter what, focus on your game.”
Siraj loves listening to old Bollywood songs before matches to calm his nerves. Kishore Kumar is one of his favorites.
He once admitted that when he gets nervous before a match, he talks to his coach, Bharat Arun, who helps him get his head right.
In the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Siraj bowled 134.5 overs, more than any other Indian bowler, showing his stamina and commitment.
After that series, Siraj revealed that his father’s wish was for him to play for India, and his performances were like fulfilling that wish.
Siraj is not very active on social media, preferring to focus on his game and keep his personal life private.
Siraj is close friends with Indian cricketers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal. They often spend time together off the field.
When Siraj received his first India call-up, he was in disbelief and thought someone was playing a prank on him.
Siraj’s fastest delivery in international cricket has been clocked at over 147 km/h, making him one of the fastest Indian bowlers.
He admits that his favorite cricket memory is getting Steve Smith out in Australia, as Smith was his idol when he started playing professionally.
Siraj once said that watching Jasprit Bumrah bowl inspired him to improve his own skills. He often picks Bumrah’s brain about bowling strategies.
Despite his fierce bowling, Siraj is known to be a very humble and down-to-earth person, often sharing stories of his early struggles.
He loves to eat Biryani and often jokes that he misses his mom’s cooking when he’s traveling for matches.
Siraj’s biggest dream outside cricket is to buy his mother a luxurious house in Hyderabad, and he’s well on his way to fulfilling that.
His nickname among his teammates is “Miya Magic” because of the magical deliveries he bowls under pressure.
Siraj has a tattoo of his father’s name on his arm, a tribute to the man who inspired his cricket journey.
He once revealed that if he wasn’t a cricketer, he would have probably been helping his father in his auto-rickshaw business.
During his early days, Siraj would travel more than 20 kilometers each day for practice, often hitching rides or taking buses to save money.
His first coach gave him a pair of spikes because Siraj couldn’t afford to buy them. He wore those spikes for three years until he got his IPL contract.
Siraj is known for his unique bowling action, which he says is modeled after watching hours of YouTube videos of fast bowlers.
He has mentioned that he still feels butterflies in his stomach when he enters a stadium to bowl, no matter how big or small the match is.
Siraj is known for his fitness regime, focusing on long-distance running and strength training to maintain his pace over long spells.
He often practices yorkers for hours, as he believes they are the most effective delivery in limited-overs cricket.
Siraj made his ODI debut in 2019 against Australia, where he went wicketless, but he bounced back in his next few games with consistent performances.
Despite facing racism in Australia during the 2021 series, Siraj stayed focused on his performance and didn’t let it affect his mindset.
Siraj’s highest score in Test cricket is 16*, which came against England in 2021. He jokes that he’s a “hidden all-rounder.”
His love for cricket was so strong that he skipped family functions, even weddings, to focus on his game.
Siraj has often said that his favorite format of cricket is Test cricket because it challenges bowlers the most.
He once saved up money from local cricket matches to buy his mother her first piece of jewelry, a small but precious moment for him.
Siraj’s journey from being a street cricketer to representing India on the world stage is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and belief in his abilities. He believes that if he can make it, anyone can if they work hard enough.