As India gear up for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford starting July 23, the spotlight is back on fast bowling workloads. With all the chatter around Jasprit Bumrah’s workload and how he will play only three out of five Tests to stay fresh, it is easy to miss that Mohammed Siraj is not far behind him.With India trailing the five-match series 1-2 after three Tests, the focus is on Bumrah and whether he will step in for the Old Trafford Test. He’s already played two Tests so if the pre-series planning holds, the 31-year-old will play one of the fourth or fifth Test – at The Oval from July 31. But it could all boil down to his fitness and workload management concerns.
Since the beginning of 2024, Bumrah leads seamers in Test cricket with 453.4 overs bowled, but Siraj is not far behind with 423.3 overs, placing him second on the global list. Australia’s Mitchell Starc (412) and Pat Cummins (401.1) follow closely behind. It’s a clear sign of how vital Siraj has become to India’s red-ball attack.
| Rank | Player | Country | Overs Bowled |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 453.4 |
| 2 | Mohammed Siraj | India | 423.3 |
| 3 | Mitchell Starc | Australia | 412.0 |
| 4 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 401.1 |
Despite the workload, Siraj has not shown signs of slowing down. But the real story lies in how he is used. Siraj averages 12.83 overs per innings, compared to Bumrah’s 14.63, and Pat Cummins’ 14.86. His shorter but more frequent spells mean he’s been called upon regularly, even if not for as long each time.England’s medium pacer Chris Woakes has bowled more overs per innings (15.89) with West Indies’ Jayden Seales (14.87) second on the list of workload of a seamer.Overs bowled per inningsby seamers in Test cricket since 2024:
| Rank | Player | Country | Overs/Inn |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chris Woakes | England | 15.89 |
| 2 | Jayden Seales | West Indies | 14.87 |
| 3 | Pat Cummins | Australia | 14.86 |
| 4 | Jasprit Bumrah | India | 14.63 |
| 5 | Mohammed Siraj | India | 12.83 |
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate praised Siraj’s commitment and energy. “He never shies away from responsibility. He’s like a lion with the ball. That’s why we need to be careful with him. He’s always ready to bowl more, even when we want to pull him back,” he said.But not everyone is convinced by India’s cautious approach. Former all-rounder Irfan Pathan voiced strong views on workload talk in Indian cricket. “Ben Stokes bowled a marathon 9.2-over spell on Day Five. He bats, bowls, executes a crucial run out, but no one talks about his workload,” Pathan said on his YouTube channel. “In India, we talk about workload management even during the match. That’s not the time. You manage it when the player is rested, not when the game is on the line.” Pathan also pointed to examples like Jofra Archer, who returned to Test cricket after four years and bowled a six-over opening spell without hesitation. “Stokes didn’t think twice. He bowled spell after spell. If he can bowl nine overs, hum toh peeche rah gaye,” Pathan added, questioning whether Indian pacers pushed themselves enough in the second innings at Lord’s.After a narrow loss at Lord’s, India are under pressure to level the series. Managing their two main fast bowlers smartly will be critical. The numbers suggest they’ve both done plenty, but also reveal how different their roles really are.
