Indian vice-captain Jasprit Bumrah has heaped praise on Mohammed Siraj for his resilience and fighting spirit during the third Test of the 2024 Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Gabba, despite dealing with a niggling injury. Though Siraj managed just two wickets for 97 runs in the first innings, Bumrah had no complaints about his performance, acknowledging the significant contributions Siraj has made in previous matches.
Siraj has faced a challenging series, with 11 wickets at an average of 25. Despite his solid individual performances, he, along with Harshit Rana, Nitish Kumar Reddy, and Akash Deep, has struggled to consistently support Bumrah in key moments. At the Gabba, a cramp threatened to further disrupt India’s chances, but Mohammed Siraj showed immense determination, bowling for 23.2 overs to help the team. Jasprit Bumrah, speaking in a press conference on Monday, expressed his admiration for Siraj’s commitment.
“In this game, I will give him credit. He had a little bit of a niggle, but he still kept on bowling and helped the team. He knew if he went inside and didn’t bowl, the team would be under pressure. He has a great attitude and a fighter spirit that the team loves,” Jasprit Bumrah said.
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He further praised Siraj for always being ready for a challenge, even when not fully fit. “That’s the biggest positive for any cricketer. Even when he wasn’t 100 percent, he kept fighting for the team. That’s a great attitude.”
Jasprit Bumrah added that in cricket, performance varies, and sometimes good bowling doesn’t translate into wickets. “Some days you will bowl well, and wickets might not come. Some days, you will not bowl very well, but the wickets will follow. It’s all money in the bank. That’s the conversation I’ve had with him. You keep controlling the things you can control, keep running in, and keep having a smile on your face,” he explained.
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Bumrah emphasized that Siraj is doing something remarkable by playing Test cricket and that his family is proud of his achievements. “He’s in a very good space,” Bumrah concluded, highlighting Siraj’s strong attitude and spirit.
Siraj’s injury concerns are understandable given his workload. He has bowled the most overs by any pacer since 2023, with 589.5 overs — more than 100 overs ahead of Bumrah.
