IND vs ENG: Mohammed Siraj Overtakes Virat Kohli in Test Matches Appearances This Decade
Mohammed Siraj becomes India’s most-capped Test player of the 2020s, overtaking Virat Kohli amid ongoing pace rotation era.
Mohammed Siraj may not always dominate headlines, but he has quietly achieved something no other Indian cricketer has this decade.
With his latest appearance against England at Old Trafford, the fast bowler played his 40th Test match, becoming India’s most capped Test player of the 2020s, surpassing none other than Virat Kohli.
Siraj: The Relentless Workhorse
While India continues to rotate Jasprit Bumrah to manage his workload, Siraj has remained a constant figure in the red-ball setup.
He has played more Tests this decade than any other Indian cricketer, including all-format stars like Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, and even Bumrah himself.
What makes the feat even more remarkable is that Siraj made his debut only in late 2020, during India’s memorable tour of Australia.
Despite missing most of that year, the Hyderabad pacer has raced ahead of the pack with his unmatched availability and fitness. In Manchester, he bowled a mammoth 30 overs, taking his tally to 139 overs across four Tests in this series alone.
Surpassing Kohli, Quietly
Virat Kohli, who recently announced his retirement from Test cricket, played 39 Tests in this decade.
Siraj edged past that count in his latest outing, doing so without much buzz or celebration. But make no mistake, the number speaks volumes.
No Rest, No Fuss
The biggest question now: where is the workload management for Siraj?
At 31, Siraj also plays all three formats. But unlike others, he’s rarely rested, rarely rotated, and rarely complains.
His name doesn’t pop up in team discussions about “managing bowling workload,” yet he continues to carry the load.
