When Mohammed Siraj was named in India’s T20I squads for the Ireland and England series, many observers were surprised. His role in India’s white-ball setup has steadily reduced over the past two years, making his selection seem unexpected.
However, what surprised fans even more was his subsequent withdrawal from the squad under a workload management program, with Prasidh Krishna named as his replacement.
At first glance, the decision appeared unusual. Siraj has not been a regular in India’s T20I plans and has played limited ODI cricket in recent years. Yet a closer look at his workload reveals why India decided to rest one of their most important fast bowlers.
Siraj’s White-Ball Opportunities Have Declined
Since India’s triumph at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, Siraj has largely been on the fringes of the T20I setup.
He played only one bilateral T20I series after the tournament and featured in just a single match during the 2026 T20 World Cup. Even his selection for that tournament came after an injury to another player created an opening.
His ODI opportunities have also become limited.
Since the 2023 ODI World Cup, Siraj has played only a handful of one-day internationals. He missed selection for the Champions Trophy squad and often found himself behind other bowlers in India’s preferred combinations.
In many cases, his returns to the side coincided with the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, suggesting that Siraj was increasingly viewed as a backup option in white-ball formats.
The Real Story Lies in Test Cricket
While Siraj’s role in limited-overs cricket has reduced, the opposite has happened in Test cricket.
Over the past three years, he has quietly become one of India’s most trusted red-ball bowlers.
Whenever India needed a fast bowler to play long spells, handle heavy workloads, and remain available across series, Siraj was usually the answer.
As Bumrah’s workload was carefully managed, Siraj often took on additional responsibility.
That commitment has transformed him into one of the busiest fast bowlers in world cricket.
India’s Workhorse Since 2023
Statistics highlight the scale of Siraj’s workload.
Since January 2023, he has bowled more than 1,200 overs across international cricket and the IPL, making him the busiest fast bowler in the world during that period.
Only Ravindra Jadeja has bowled more overs overall among Indian players.
The most significant detail is where those overs have come from.
Nearly 60 percent of Siraj’s workload has been in Test cricket, the format that places the greatest physical demands on fast bowlers.
During this period, he has bowled approximately 744 overs in Test matches alone.
By comparison, T20 internationals have contributed only a tiny fraction of his overall workload.
Nearly Ever-Present in India’s Test Team
India have played 33 Test matches since the beginning of 2023.
Siraj has featured in 30 of them.
That means he has appeared in more than 90 percent of India’s Tests during this period.
Few fast bowlers anywhere in the world have maintained such a consistent presence.
Meanwhile, India’s management has carefully monitored Bumrah’s workload to ensure his long-term fitness. As a result, Siraj often became the bowler expected to fill the gap whenever rotations or rest periods occurred.
England Tour Showed His Value
Siraj’s importance was particularly evident during India’s 2025 Test tour of England.
He was the only Indian fast bowler to play all five Tests in the series.
Across the tour, he bowled approximately 185 overs and finished as India’s leading wicket-taker.
His durability and ability to handle long spells allowed the team to rotate other bowlers while maintaining a competitive pace attack.
Performances like those have strengthened his status as a crucial member of India’s Test plans.
Looking Ahead to a Busy Schedule
India face a packed international calendar in the coming months.
The schedule includes multiple Test series, a significant ODI program and preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.
With such a demanding workload ahead, the management appears determined to protect Siraj from burnout.
The decision to withdraw him from relatively less important T20I assignments now seems less surprising.
Rather than viewing the move as a reflection of his standing in white-ball cricket, it can be seen as an investment in his long-term availability.
Siraj Has Become Too Important to Ignore
For much of the past year, discussions focused on whether Siraj had become a one-format cricketer.
The reality may be very different.
His reduced involvement in T20Is and ODIs does not indicate declining importance. Instead, it highlights how valuable he has become in the format that demands the most from fast bowlers.
India built a workload management strategy around Jasprit Bumrah. However, Siraj often carried the additional burden created by those rotations.
After years of shouldering that responsibility, India now appear ready to extend the same protection to him.
The latest rest period is not about poor form or fitness concerns. Rather, it reflects the growing realization that Mohammed Siraj has become one of the pillars of India’s Test team, and preserving him is now a priority.