Virat Kohli’s Influence on Mohammed Siraj’s Bowling Mentality
Indian pace bowler Mohammed Siraj has emerged as one of the brightest stars in India’s Test lineup, especially after his remarkable performance during the recent England tour. Siraj played a crucial role in India’s comeback victory at The Oval, which levelled the five-match Test series in dramatic fashion. His fiery bowling spell, which saw him finish with 23 wickets—the highest in the series—has received widespread praise.
In a recent conversation with RevSportz, Siraj opened up about the key influences on his career, particularly the impact of his first captain, Virat Kohli. “Off the field, he would be talking very nicely, but on the ground, the opposition is the enemy for him. I like this thing about him. And my bowling comes from aggression,” Siraj revealed, highlighting how Kohli’s fierce competitiveness helped shape his own mindset on the field.
Aggression, Crowd Energy, and Taking Down Joe Root
Siraj firmly believes that fast bowlers thrive on aggression. “If I do not show that on the ground, I won’t be able to bowl well. Fast bowlers should have aggression on the field, and Virat Kohli has more aggression on the field than bowlers,” he said, reinforcing the idea that intensity is essential for top-level performance.
Reflecting on a key moment from The Oval Test, Siraj credited Kohli once again—this time for teaching him how to harness crowd energy. “I have also learnt to take crowd support from Virat. The support of the crowd, for a bowler, can make a big difference and get the bowler flying with confidence,” he explained.
When England batters Joe Root and Harry Brook were settling into a dangerous partnership, Siraj noticed his teammates’ energy dropping. But instead of letting the game slip away, he chose to lead by example. “We had a bit of a shoulder-dropping moment. But then, I encouraged everyone, and we went ahead to get the upper hand in the form of the wicket of Root,” he shared.
The dismissal of Root proved to be the turning point in the match, triggering a collapse that saw England lose their last seven wickets for just 73 runs.
Siraj also touched upon his long-standing bond with Kohli, which dates back to their shared time with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League. “I have had a good bond with him,” Siraj mentioned, underlining the trust and camaraderie the duo share on and off the field.
Despite his stellar Test performances, Mohammed Siraj is not part of India’s squad for the Asia Cup T20 and will also miss the upcoming Duleep Trophy 2025. However, fans can expect to see him in action during the two-match Test series against the West Indies in October 2025, where he will once again look to make a statement with the red ball.
