Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj (born 13 March 1994) is an Indian international cricketer who plays as a right-arm fast bowler for the Indian national team. He also plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League and Hyderabad in domestic cricket. He was a part of the Indian squad which won the 2023 Asia Cup, where he was the Player of the Match in the final against Sri Lanka. He was a member of the Indian team that won the 2024 T20 World Cup.

Early life
Siraj was born on 13 March 1994 in Hyderabad, Telangana to a Hyderabadi Muslim family. His father, Mohammed Ghaus, was an auto rickshaw driver, and his mother, Shabana Begum, is a housewife. His elder brother, Mohammed Ismail, is an engineer. Siraj started playing club cricket at the age of 19 after first starting bowling aged 16, with a tennis ball. In his first match, he took 9 wickets for his uncle's team in the Hyderabad Cricket Association.

Domestic career
Siraj made his first-class debut on 15 November 2015 under the coaching of Karthik Udupa playing for Hyderabad in the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy tournament. He made his Twenty20 debut on 2 January 2016 in the 2015–16 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy tournament. During the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy tournament, he was the highest wicket-taker for Hyderabad with 41 wickets at an average of 18.92.

In February 2018, he was the leading wicket-taker in the 2017–18 Vijay Hazare Trophy, with 23 dismissals in seven matches. In October 2018, he was named in India A's squad for the 2018–19 Deodhar Trophy. In October 2019, he was named in India B's squad for the 2019–20 Deodhar Trophy.

International career
In October 2017, he was named in India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for their series against New Zealand. He made his T20I debut for India against New Zealand on 4 November 2017, taking the wicket of Kane Williamson, finishing with figures of 1 wicket for 53 runs from four overs.

In February 2018, he was named in India's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the 2018 Nidahas Trophy. In September 2018, he was named in India's Test squad for their series against the West Indies, but he did not play. In December 2018, he was named in India's One Day International (ODI) squad for their series against Australia. He made his ODI debut against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on 15 January 2019.

On 26 October 2020, Siraj was named in India's Test squad for their series against Australia. After some deliberation to choose between Navdeep Saini and Siraj following an injury to Mohammad Shami, Siraj was chosen ahead of Saini, and he made his Test debut for India on 26 December 2020, against Australia. His first Test wicket was of Marnus Labuschagne. In January 2021, during the fourth Test of the series against Australia, Siraj took his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

In January 2023, Siraj placed important role in the Ind vs NZ ODI series. He took 4 wickets in the first ODI which helped the team to win the match for 12 runs.

On 21 January 2023, Siraj became the No. 1 ODI Bowler in ICC ODI Rankings for Bowlers.

On 21 August 2023, Siraj was selected to play for India and his name was included in the 15 Man squad announced by BCCI ahead of 2023 Asia Cup.

On 17 September 2023, in the Asia Cup final, Siraj became the joint fastest bowler to take a 6 wicket haul in ODIs equaling Chaminda Vaas's record of taking 5 wicket in 16 balls against Bangladesh in 2003 World Cup. He ended with a career best figure of 6/21 and also became the 1st Indian to take 4 wickets in an over.

In May 2024, he was named in India’s squad for the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.

Indian Premier League
In February 2017, he was bought by the Sunrisers Hyderabad team for the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) for 2.6 crores. In January 2018, he was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 IPL auction.

On 21 October 2020, he became the first bowler in IPL history to bowl back to back maiden overs in a single match.