Former West Indies fast bowler Ian Bishop reckons Mohammed Siraj would jump ahead of Mohammed Shami if the former continues his good form in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Siraj returned with his best IPL bowling figures against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad on Sunday as he bagged 4-17 in his quota of four overs.

The fast bowler accounted for Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Aniket Verma, and Simarjeet Singh in his fine spell. Siraj has been in terrific form in the ongoing tournament, taking nine wickets in four matches at an average of 13.78.

On the other hand, Mohammed Shami returned with figures of 2-28 in his quota of four overs against Gujarat Titans, dismissing in-form Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill.

Bishop reckons Shami hasn’t bowled at his absolute best since he got a five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in the Champions Trophy’s opener.

“Since Shami got that five-wicket haul in the Champions Trophy, I don’t think we have seen that Shami again since then. He’s 34, nearly 35. It was two seasons ago that Siraj got ten wickets in the powerplay for RCB, and only five last year, so his powerplay bowling had dropped off a bit. But, he looks better now. If he continues to hit that lengths he is bowling, and uses the seam, he looks, right now, as if he has jumped ahead of Mohammed Shami,” Bishop said on ESPN Cricinfo.

“If Siraj continues bowling like he has done in the last two games, I think he offers slightly more across phases. Whereas, Shami, is a little bit more orthodox,” he added.

Siraj has been right on the money in the ongoing IPL 2025 for Gujarat Titans and has played a key role in the team’s success.

GT will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Wednesday.