Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has received a new leadership role. The Hyderabad Cricket Association appointed him as captain of their Ranji Trophy team for the remaining matches of the season. Top-order batsman G Rahul Singh will serve as his vice-captain.
Hyderabad's Upcoming Fixtures
Hyderabad faces two crucial home games to finish their Ranji Trophy campaign. They will host Mumbai on January 22, followed by Chhattisgarh on January 29. Both matches will take place in Hyderabad.
Team's Current Standing
Hyderabad currently holds fourth position in Ranji Trophy Group D. They have accumulated 13 points so far. This placement makes their qualification for the quarter-finals appear unlikely, but not impossible.
Siraj's Recent Cricket Commitments
Siraj is currently participating in India's three-match ODI series against New Zealand. He claimed two wickets in the first match at Vadodara. The second game at Rajkot saw him go wicketless.
Captaincy Background and Reasoning
This marks Siraj's first professional captaincy appointment. The Hyderabad selection committee chose him based on his extensive red-ball experience and significant achievements for the national team. Many cricket observers view this as a potential trial run for making him the permanent captain next season.
Tilak Varma originally received the captaincy before the series began. However, he joined the Indian squad for the T20I series against New Zealand and subsequently suffered an abdominal injury. This development created the vacancy that Siraj now fills.
Siraj's Domestic and International Record
Siraj has established himself as a vital component of India's Test bowling attack. He performs consistently both at home and during overseas tours. Last year, he emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series. Siraj claimed 23 wickets throughout that competition.
During that series, he effectively guided India's younger pace bowlers. This leadership occurred while senior bowler Jasprit Bumrah was unavailable. The experience demonstrated his capability to mentor less experienced players.
Recent Domestic Appearances
Siraj has not played any red-ball cricket for Hyderabad this season. His last Ranji Trophy appearance for the team happened in January 2025 against Vidarbha. However, he has participated in other domestic tournaments during the current season.
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Siraj took seven wickets from four matches. His contributions helped Hyderabad reach the super league stage. He also played three games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, securing three wickets. Hyderabad finished sixth in Group B of that tournament, winning only two of their seven matches.
The Hyderabad cricket community watches with interest as Siraj assumes this new responsibility. His performance as captain could influence team selections for future domestic seasons.
