When Siraj gets going, it’s not just his pace that rattles batters, it's his presence, his intensity, and his refusal to back down. His fiery send-off to Ben Duckett at Lord’s, screaming in the batter’s face just two balls after a verbal exchange, was the latest reminder of what happens when Siraj’s adrenaline kicks in
Mohammed Siraj (Pic: AFP)
Mohammed Siraj has never been one to shy away from confrontation. If anything, success fuels his fire. With aggression etched into his game, the Hyderabad pacer has carved a reputation as one of India’s most emotionally charged fast bowlers, wearing his passion on his sleeve and thriving in the heat of battle.
When Siraj gets going, it’s not just his pace that rattles batters, it's his presence, his intensity, and his refusal to back down. His fiery send-off to Ben Duckett at Lord’s, screaming in the batter’s face just two balls after a verbal exchange, was the latest reminder of what happens when Siraj’s adrenaline kicks in.
Here are three other moments when Siraj’s inner fire truly erupted on the cricket field:
Travis Head send-off – Adelaide, 2024
Perhaps one of Siraj’s most talked-about confrontations came during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash in Adelaide. Having bowled an absolute gem, a searing yorker to dismiss Travis Head for 140, Siraj didn’t settle for a muted celebration.
There was a bit happening here between Head and Siraj after the wicket 👀#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/f4k9YUVD2k
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 7, 2024
Instead, he let the emotion take over. He pointed Head toward the pavilion and stared him down with raw aggression, drawing loud jeers from the Adelaide crowd. The incident earned him an ICC fine and a demerit point, but Siraj didn’t seem fazed. It was classic Siraj: unapologetic, fired up, and fully in the moment.
Verbal duel with James Anderson – England, 2021
During India’s 2021 tour of England, Siraj showed he wasn’t one to bow before experience. When James Anderson allegedly hurled a few words his way while batting, Siraj didn’t hesitate to return the fire. “Wait till you come out to bat against me," he said.
When Anderson eventually did, Siraj confronted him head-on. “You’ve taken 600 wickets, but I don’t care. You have no respect from me,” he snarled. The exchange was so intense that Anderson reportedly turned to then-skipper Virat Kohli and asked if Siraj was 'mad'.
The Litton Das showdown – Chattogram, 2022
In the opening Test against Bangladesh at Chattogram, Siraj’s aggressive instincts flared up once again, this time against Litton Das.
After Das blocked a delivery and sarcastically asked Siraj to speak louder, the fast bowler shot back with a pointed remark: “This is not T20 format. This is Test cricket, so play sensible cricket.”
One ball later, Siraj had his revenge. He knocked over Das’s stumps and broke into a thunderous celebration, underlining his message with a wicket and a roar.
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