Mohammed Siraj: How India's Workload Management Created Cricket's Busiest Fast Bowler
Mohammed Siraj has become the busiest fast bowler in world cricket, bowling 1,231 overs since January 2023, primarily in Test cricket where he has played 30 of India's 33 Tests. While his white-ball opportunities have diminished as Jasprit Bumrah's workload is carefully managed, Siraj has become indispensable in the red-ball format, bowling nearly 25 overs per Test. His recent withdrawal from England and Ireland T20Is under a workload management program reflects India's recognition that preserving him for the demanding Test schedule ahead is more critical than his limited white-ball role.
Mohammed Siraj's inclusion in India's T20I squad for matches against Ireland and England surprised observers given his minimal role in the format, but his subsequent withdrawal under a workload management program reveals a deeper strategic picture. Since January 2023, Siraj has bowled 1,231 overs across all formats—the most of any fast bowler globally—with 744 overs (60 percent) coming in Test cricket, where he has featured in 30 of India's 33 Tests since 2023. While Jasprit Bumrah's workload has been carefully preserved through selective rest and series omissions, Siraj has carried the burden of India's fast bowling in the red-ball format, bowling approximately 25 overs per Test. His white-ball opportunities have diminished significantly, with only nine T20Is and limited ODI appearances since the 2023 World Cup, making him increasingly viewed as expendable in shorter formats. India's decision to rest Siraj from T20Is reflects the organization's realization that protecting him for the demanding Test schedule ahead—including 17 ODIs and 10 Tests—is essential for long-term sustainability.
What different sources said
- The Times of IndiaCenter
The Mohammed Siraj workload question: How India created cricket's busiest fast bowler
- Times of IndiaCenter
The Siraj workload question: How India created cricket's busiest fast bowler
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