Former Indian batsman Sunil Gavaskar believes that the fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has debunked the term “workload” in Indian cricket.
Siraj, who played all five test matches against England in the recently concluded Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025, was ranked as the leading wicket-taker in the test series. He bowled 185.3 overs (which is 1,113 balls bowled) and claimed 23 wickets in 9 innings.
Particularly, in the series decider fifth test at The Oval, Siraj’s heroic performance in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence led India to a thrilling victory by 6 runs that helped the Shubman Gill-led side draw the series by 2-2.
However, Gavaskar’s comments come amidst the increasing importance of “workload management” in the modern era of cricket.
Was Gavaskar’s Statement Criticizing Bumrah?
No! Sunil Gavaskar clarified that his comments were not to criticize India’s spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, who was very particular about his injury management and followed a cautious workload approach in Indian cricket.
Bumrah played only 3 out of 5 test matches against England and concluded as the fourth leading wicket-taker in the series, having bagged 14 wickets in 5 innings.
The 76-year-old cited the example of Rishabh Pant batted and scored a half-century in the fourth test at Old Trafford despite suffering from a toe injury:
“See! You need to forget about the body aches and pains when you’re playing for the country. Just look at those Jawans on the border who are fighting for our country? Are they complaining about the freezing climate?
Recently, Rishabh Pant showed us the best example. He walked out to bat even after struggling from a severe fracture. This is what you need to expect from a cricketer. Most importantly, it is an honor for any cricketer to play for India,” Gavaskar told.
Sunil Gavaskar Wants the “Workload’ Term to be Removed from the Indian Cricket Dictionary
Furthermore, India’s legendary opening batter explained that too much dependence on the term “workload management” will certainly prevent India from including their best players in the playing XI:
“Certainly! You will never have your best cricketers on the field while playing for your nation if you are going to surrender to those people who often speak about the workload.
Hopefully, the term ‘workload’ gets erased from the Indian cricket dictionary. This is what I have been conveying for a long time. You need to remember that the workload is only a psychological factor and not related to anything physical strength,” Gavaskar explained.
Sunil Gavaskar Heaped Praises on Mohammed Siraj
Mainly, the former Indian captain couldn’t restrict himself from showering praises on Mohammed Siraj, who gave his heart and soul to bring India back to the winning ways in the fifth test match after a tricky situation:
“Excellent! This is the best ability of Mohammed Siraj we saw. I believe he delivered his best performance from the heart. Indeed, he was the one who perfectly set an example and debunked the term ‘workload’.
Siraj bowled 7 to 8 overs non-stop for five test matches. This is because the captain, as well as the entire nation, was expected to lead the bowling line-up from the front.
Overall, he proves that the workload management cannot obstruct the way of fielding the best available players in a team,” Gavaskar added.
Siraj Delivers a Warrior-Like Performance on Day 05 of the Fifth Test
While Siraj grabbed 4 wickets in the first innings, he came back stronger in the second innings and opted for an aggressive approach to help his team defend a 374 target in a must-win game.
Although he dropped Harry Brook’s catch, but kept his confidence levels high by claiming a 5-wicket haul. Although he conceded 104 runs in 30.1 overs, but took the crucial 5 wickets of England’s in-form players, namely Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Jamie Overton, and Gus Atkinson.
From 301/3 in 62.3 overs to 367/10 in 85.1 overs, the 31-year-old, along with the other pacers Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep, bundled out England’s innings by grabbing another 7 wickets for just 66 runs.
A Short Glimpse of Siraj’s Performance in the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025
- Matches Played: 5
- Innings Bowled: 9
- Balls Bowled: 1,113
- Overs Bowled: 185.3
- Number of Maiden Overs: 26
- Runs Conceded: 746
- Wickets Taken: 23
- Best Bowling Figures: 6/70
- Average: 32.43
- Economy: 4.02
- Bowling Strike Rate: 48.39
- Number of 5-Wicket Hauls: 2
Overall Opinion
Sunil Gavaskar admires Mohammed Siraj not just for the number of wickets he bagged throughout the series, but for his hard work and dedication to stay mentally and physically strong for his team in tricky situations.
In today’s world, cricketers are often rotated in the playing XI to gain rest and preserve their form. But Siraj played with full energy and passion right from the first match of the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy 2025. He represented his nation with grit and determination.
Overall, it is a boon for the Indian cricket team to get an energetic bowler like Mohammed Siraj, who is always ready to represent his nation with grit and determination.