In the 17th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has had a tough run. Under Faf du Plessis's leadership, the team has lost five out of six games so far. Their solitary win came against Punjab Kings (PBKS).
While Virat Kohli has had a moderate performance barring the batting unit, RCB's bowling unit has been completely off the mark. Key pace bowler Mohammed Siraj has had a disconcerting season, far below expectations.
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Siraj's Costly Spells Emerge as a Big Concern
The right-arm fast bowler has secured only four wickets in six matches during IPL 2024, with an economy rate of 10.40 and an average of 57.24. Clearly, Siraj has become quite expensive. He was retained by RCB for a whopping 7 crore INR before IPL 2022.
Looking back at the previous IPL season, Siraj took 10 wickets during the powerplay at an economy rate of 5.9. However, in IPL 2024, his economy in powerplays skyrocketed to 12.3, conceding 10 sixes off his bowling. Renowned for taking early wickets in all formats, Siraj’s current form has been lackluster.
Source: aajtak
Does Siraj Need a Break?
30-year-old Mohammed Siraj looks worn out in the ongoing IPL season, possibly due to non-stop cricket over the past 12 months. Such relentless play has taken a toll on his performance. Siraj has been a champion bowler and has consistently performed well for RCB, but his current workload suggests the need for a mental and physical break.
Siraj was part of Team India for the five-match Test series against England before IPL, playing four matches. He was also on the South Africa tour prior to the England series and had represented India in the ODI World Cup and Asia Cup before that.
Siraj's Form Increases Team India's Worries
With the upcoming T20 World Cup in sight, Siraj's form has become a source of concern for the Indian team management. With star fast bowlers like Mohammed Shami and Prasidh Krishna injured, Siraj is likely to be part of the squad for the T20 World Cup. Other probable fast bowlers include Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. The T20 World Cup is scheduled to be held from June 2 to June 29 in the West Indies and the USA. The Indian selectors' meeting for the World Cup squad could take place by the end of April or the beginning of May.
A Look at Siraj's International Record
Mohammed Siraj has played 27 Tests, 41 ODIs, and 10 T20Is for India so far. With a test average of 29.68, he has taken 74 wickets, and his best performance in an innings was 6 wickets for 15 runs. In ODIs, Siraj has taken 68 wickets with an average of 22.79, and his best ODI performance was 6 wickets for 21 runs. Siraj has claimed a total of 12 wickets in T20 Internationals. Speaking of the IPL, Siraj has taken 82 wickets in 85 matches for RCB.
