Legendary India National Cricket Team off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has sent a strong message to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the premier pacer Mohammed Siraj.
Ravichandran Ashwin has strictly advised the BCCI selection committee and the team management to rest Mohammed Siraj in “inconsequential matches” and manage his workload properly.
Mohammed Siraj guides India to Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy draw
Siraj led the Indian bowling unit very well in the five-match Test series against the England National Cricket Team, as the pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah only featured in three out of five matches.
The right-arm pacer finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy with 23 scalps in 9 innings at an average of 32.43.
His best performances came in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah at Edgbaston in Birmingham and at the Kennington Oval in London, and with his game-changing performances, he forced the fans to say, ‘I am only believe in Miyan Bhai’.
India won the thrilling Oval Test by 6 runs, with Siraj picking the last wicket, and drew the high-voltage Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025.
Notably, without Bumrah in the playing XI, Siraj has picked 49 wickets in his Test career in 29 innings at an average of 25.1, and with Bumrah in the side, he has bagged 74 scalps in 47 innings at an average of 35.
We failed to recognise Mohammed Siraj – Ravichandran Ashwin
Spin-bowling great Ravichandran Ashwin was in awe of Siraj and the performance he delivered in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
It’s about time Siraj gets all the recognition he deserves as he is a champion bowler, a match-winner, and among the few bowlers in the world who can play five consecutive Tests without getting tired, believes Ravichandran Ashwin.
“We failed to recognise Mohammed Siraj. The time has come to recognise him now. He once again put his hand up; he has given a compelling reason. Just look at his celebration, it seems as if he is saying, ‘This is not the trailer.
“This is the main picture itself’. He is saying, ‘Please consider me as a match-winner’. ‘ He is reminding us what a champion bowler he is. His bowling action, his technique and good work ethic are allowing him to play all five Tests in a series,” said Ashwin said on his YouTube channel.
It is important for the team management to rest him – Ravichandran Ashwin
Ravichandran Ashwin further highlighted the urgent need to manage Siraj’s workload by resting him in inconsequential matches. Ashwin said that Siraj is growing old and, if properly managed, he can be India’s No.1 Test bowler.
“He is also growing old. It is important for the team management to rest him as well from inconsequential matches. He could be your No.1 Test bowler; he could be your go-to Test bowler. We have to rebuild the bowling attack. Akash Deep is there, Prasidh Krishna is there, Arshdeep Singh is there. Around Mohammed Siraj and his experience, we have to build it,” he added.