An unknown quantity before the 2016–17 season, Mohammed Siraj burst onto the Indian domestic scene by spearheading Hyderabad’s run to the Ranji Trophy quarter-finals. With 41 wickets from nine matches, Siraj finished as the third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, announcing himself as a fast bowler of genuine promise. A late bloomer by Indian standards, Siraj had only taken to professional cricket seriously in 2015, making his rise all the more remarkable. His Ranji exploits earned him a contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad for the 2017 Indian Premier League. Despite not being particularly tall, Siraj’s ability to extract pace and bounce caught the attention of head coach Tom Moody. Such was the demand for the right-arm quick that he went from a base price of INR 20 lakh to a winning bid of INR 2.6 crore. Though he featured in only six matches, Siraj claimed 10 wickets and played a key role in Sunrisers reaching the playoffs, albeit at the cost of some runs due to his aggressive approach. Siraj missed most of the 2017–18 Ranji season but returned strongly in limited-overs domestic cricket. He was outstanding in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, taking 23 wickets in just seven matches, including three five-wicket hauls, and followed it up with 10 wickets from five games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, earning him the nickname “Hyderabad Express.” While Siraj made his international debut in 2017, consistency at the highest level initially eluded him. His defining moment arrived in December 2020 during India’s tour of Australia. Drafted into the playing XI for the Melbourne Test following Mohammed Shami’s injury, Siraj seized the opportunity. By the end of the series, he had emerged as India’s lead fast bowler, with injuries sidelining the rest of the attack. His incisive spells were central to India’s historic 2–1 series victory Down Under. Siraj’s growth as a white-ball bowler followed swiftly. Particularly lethal with the new ball, he established himself as a powerplay specialist in ODIs. In January 2023, he rose to the top of the ICC ODI bowling rankings and later produced a career-defining spell of 6/21 in the Asia Cup final, dismantling Sri Lanka on their home soil. He went on to represent India at the 2023 ODI World Cup, sharing the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah. Selected for the 2024 T20 World Cup, Siraj featured in all matches during the USA leg of the tournament before being replaced by Kuldeep Yadav when the competition moved to the West Indies. A relentless worker who has earned success through perseverance rather than prodigy, Siraj has now established himself as a genuine three-format bowler capable of taking wickets in all conditions. Siraj’s IPL journey mirrors his international evolution. After Sunrisers Hyderabad released him due to inconsistency, Royal Challengers Bangalore identified his potential and secured his services for INR 2.6 crore at the 2018 auction. Initially erratic, Siraj gradually transformed into Virat Kohli’s trusted death-overs option and a mainstay of the RCB attack. Despite bowling on the batting-friendly Chinnaswamy Stadium, he became the franchise’s most reliable wicket-taker, particularly after 2022. Ahead of the mega auction, Siraj was not retained by Bangalore and was subsequently picked up by Gujarat Titans for INR 12.25 crore — a reflection of how far the once-raw Hyderabad pacer has come.
