Mohammed Siraj: India fast bowler’s rise from Hyderabad to the global stage
As of 2026, Mohammed Siraj remains one of India’s most prominent fast bowlers across international cricket, with a career defined by red-ball spells overseas, high-impact limited-overs performances and a rapid rise from domestic cricket in Hyderabad to India’s national side. According to publicly available data from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and match records reported by Reuters and other major news agencies, Siraj has been a regular member of India’s pace group during the 2024–2026 period.
Born on 13 March 1994 in Hyderabad, Telangana, Mohammed Siraj came through domestic cricket for Hyderabad before earning Indian Premier League (IPL) contracts and eventually a place in the Indian national team. His career has been followed closely because of his background, his pace-bowling development and his role in several important India wins, particularly in Test cricket away from home.
Early life and domestic cricket background
Siraj was born in Hyderabad and played domestic cricket for Hyderabad in Indian domestic competitions. He gained national attention through performances in the Ranji Trophy, India’s premier first-class domestic tournament. His first major IPL opportunity came when Sunrisers Hyderabad signed him for the 2017 season. He later played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he became a regular new-ball bowler in the IPL.
The IPL helped Siraj move into India’s white-ball squads. However, his most significant international impact came later in Test cricket. He made his Test debut for India in December 2020 in Australia, during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. India won that series 2–1, and Siraj finished as India’s leading wicket-taker in the series with 13 wickets, according to scorecards and reports from the period.
International career and role in India’s pace attack
Siraj’s international career has included Test matches, One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals. He is known for bowling with the new ball and also returning for middle and late spells. In Tests, he has often been used as an attacking seamer, especially when India have played in pace-friendly conditions in Australia, England and South Africa.
By the 2024–2026 cycle, Siraj was no longer an emerging player but an established part of India’s fast-bowling pool. His role varied according to format. In Tests, he was used as a wicket-taking fast bowler. In ODIs, he frequently bowled in the powerplay. In T20 cricket, he was used selectively depending on team combinations and tournament conditions.
Key statistics from 2024 to 2026
The 2024–2026 period included major international tournaments, bilateral series and IPL seasons. The following publicly reported statistics help define Siraj’s recent career profile:
- 2024: Siraj was part of India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, which India won after defeating South Africa in the final in Barbados on 29 June 2024, as reported by Reuters and the ICC.
- 2024: In the IPL 2024 season, Siraj played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Official IPL data listed him among RCB’s specialist fast bowlers during the tournament.
- 2024: India’s T20 World Cup victory was the country’s second men’s T20 World Cup title, after the first in 2007, according to ICC records.
- 2025: Siraj continued to be listed in India’s fast-bowling resources across international series and BCCI squad announcements where selected.
- 2025: During the IPL 2025 auction cycle, Mohammed Siraj was acquired by Gujarat Titans for ₹12.25 crore, according to official IPL auction data reported by major Indian and international sports outlets.
- As of 2026: Siraj’s international record includes appearances for India in all three formats, with Test cricket remaining a major part of his profile, based on ICC and BCCI player records.
Test cricket: overseas impact and long-format value
Siraj’s Test career is closely associated with India’s overseas campaigns. His performance in Australia in 2020–21 remains one of the most significant early milestones of his international career. He took a five-wicket haul in the Brisbane Test at the Gabba in January 2021, a match India won to secure the series. That victory ended Australia’s long unbeaten run at the venue in Test cricket and became one of India’s most documented overseas wins.
In later years, Siraj continued to feature in India’s Test plans. His bowling method in Tests has generally relied on seam position, attacking lengths and sustained pressure rather than extreme pace alone. He has been used in both new-ball and first-change roles, depending on whether Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami or other pacers have been in the XI.
In January 2024, Siraj produced one of his most widely reported Test spells in Cape Town against South Africa. He took 6 wickets for 15 runs in the first innings of the second Test, according to official scorecards and Reuters match reports. South Africa were bowled out for 55, their lowest Test total against India. India won the match by seven wickets, drawing the two-match series 1–1.
That performance was a major statistical marker for Siraj in the 2024–2026 period. It also showed his ability to exploit seam-friendly conditions. The Cape Town Test was completed in two days, making it one of the shortest completed Tests by balls bowled, according to widely cited match records.
One Day Internationals and new-ball role
Siraj’s ODI career developed rapidly after 2022. He became particularly effective with the new ball and was part of India’s pace unit during the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Although that tournament falls just before the 2024–2026 window, it remained relevant to his standing entering 2024 because India reached the final and Siraj was among the bowlers used in the campaign.
In ODIs, Siraj has been used to take wickets in the first powerplay. This role is valuable because early wickets reduce scoring opportunities and expose middle-order batters earlier than planned. ICC rankings during the 2023–2024 period placed Siraj among the leading ODI bowlers at different points, reflecting his consistency in that format.
As of 2026, his ODI role continued to be assessed alongside India’s broader rotation policy for fast bowlers. India’s schedule across formats often requires workload management for pacers, especially those involved in Tests, ODIs, T20Is and the IPL.
T20 cricket and the 2024 World Cup squad
Siraj was part of India’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. India won the tournament by defeating South Africa by 7 runs in the final in Barbados on 29 June 2024. Reuters reported that India’s win ended an 11-year wait for a global ICC title, following the 2013 Champions Trophy.
Although T20 cricket often demands frequent variation, Siraj’s primary strengths have remained his pace, seam movement and attacking lengths. In T20Is, selection has depended on venue, pitch type, opposition and the balance of India’s bowling attack. India used a mix of pace and spin throughout the 2024 World Cup, reflecting conditions in the United States and the Caribbean.
Indian Premier League career and 2025 move
The IPL has played an important role in Siraj’s professional profile. After starting with Sunrisers Hyderabad, he built a long association with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. At RCB, he developed into a regular bowler in powerplay overs and at times handled death-over responsibility.
One of the most significant recent IPL developments came ahead of the 2025 season. Gujarat Titans bought Mohammed Siraj for ₹12.25 crore at the IPL 2025 mega auction, according to official auction records and reports from major news outlets. The figure reflected his value as an India international fast bowler with experience across formats.
IPL contracts are officially recorded by the league and franchises. Player prices at the auction are public and are widely reported because the IPL is one of the world’s highest-profile domestic T20 competitions. Siraj’s 2025 move also changed his franchise environment after several seasons with RCB.
Bowling style and technical profile
Siraj is a right-arm fast-medium bowler. His bowling has often been based on upright seam release and attacking the stumps. In helpful conditions, he can move the ball off the seam. In overseas Tests, this has made him useful on pitches offering pace, bounce or lateral movement.
He has also bowled short spells with high intensity, particularly in Test cricket. India’s fast-bowling strategy in recent years has involved using several pace options to maintain pressure over long periods. Siraj’s ability to bowl multiple spells has helped him remain part of that structure when selected.
In white-ball cricket, he has frequently bowled with the new ball. The first six overs in T20s and first ten overs in ODIs are important phases because fielding restrictions can lead to high scoring if bowlers miss their lengths. Siraj’s role in these overs has been to seek early wickets while limiting boundaries.
Major career milestones
Siraj’s career includes several milestones that are supported by official records and match scorecards. He made his T20I debut for India in 2017, his ODI debut in 2019 and his Test debut in 2020. His Test five-wicket haul at the Gabba in January 2021 remains one of his landmark performances. His 6 for 15 in Cape Town in January 2024 is another major entry in his career record.
He was also part of India’s squads in major ICC events, including the 2023 Cricket World Cup and the 2024 T20 World Cup. India reached the 2023 World Cup final and won the 2024 T20 World Cup. These tournaments helped keep Siraj in the centre of India’s fast-bowling discussion during the 2024–2026 period.
Public recognition and national context
Siraj’s journey has received attention because he came from a modest family background in Hyderabad. News reports over the years have documented that his father worked as an auto-rickshaw driver. This background has frequently been referenced in coverage of his rise through domestic cricket, the IPL and the Indian team.
However, his continued place in top-level cricket has depended on performance, fitness and selection. BCCI squads are selected according to team requirements, player form and workload considerations. As of 2026, Siraj’s career is measured not only by his background but by his record in international cricket and franchise tournaments.
Recent relevance in Indian cricket
India’s pace-bowling group has become increasingly important in all formats. The team has relied on fast bowlers not only in overseas Tests but also in home conditions, where reverse swing, pace variation and accuracy can influence results. Siraj’s presence in this group has provided India with another experienced option alongside other frontline fast bowlers.
During 2024 and 2025, India’s schedule included ICC events, bilateral series and franchise cricket. This made workload management a significant issue for fast bowlers. Public squad announcements from the BCCI have often reflected rotation and rest periods for players involved across formats. Siraj has been part of that broader selection environment.
As of 2026, Mohammed Siraj’s career stands at the intersection of Test-match endurance, ODI new-ball value and franchise cricket demand. His recent record includes a six-wicket Test innings in South Africa in 2024, a place in India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning squad and a ₹12.25 crore IPL move to Gujarat Titans in 2025. These facts, recorded through official scorecards, tournament data and news-agency reporting, define his current position in Indian cricket.
Sources: Reuters, Government releases, publicly available data.
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