Mohammed Siraj vs Aiden Markram: Head to Head record in Test cricket ahead of the IND vs SA Test series

Mohammed Siraj, the high-energy Indian fast bowler known for his relentless effort and seam movement, and Aiden Markram, the attacking South African opening batter, have faced off in several crucial Test encounters. Their contest is a classic Test match duel, pitting the bowler’s ability to extract movement and target the stumps against the batter’s flair and willingness to take on the short ball. This rivalry is set to be a key element in the upcoming two-match Test series in India with the first game taking place at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

Test cricket performance in 2025 ahead of IND vs SA Test Series

Mohammed Siraj in Test Cricket (Year 2025)

The year 2025 has been arguably the most dominant of Siraj’s Test career, establishing him as one of the world’s premier fast bowlers and the leading Test wicket-taker for the calendar year ahead of the India vs. South Africa series. Siraj has played 8 matches (as of October 2025), claiming a formidable total of 37 wickets at an excellent average of 26.91. His performance has been instrumental, particularly in two major series: a gruelling away series against England for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, and a home series against West Indies.

In England, he led the Indian attack, and a key highlight was his stunning performance in the home series against the West Indies, where he took 10 wickets at an average of 13 across four innings. His bowling this year has been characterized by sustained aggression, exceptional control, and the ability to extract lateral movement even on non-responsive pitches. He has recorded two four-wicket hauls and two five-wicket hauls, including a best of 6/70, consistently providing crucial breakthroughs for the Indian side. His incredible form puts immense pressure on opposition top-orders, and he will carry the mantle of India’s pace attack in the upcoming home series.

Aiden Markram in Test Cricket (Year 2025)

Markram has experienced a year of mixed fortunes in Test cricket in 2025, showing glimpses of his aggressive potential but lacking consistent, match-winning scores. He has played 8 innings so far this year, accumulating 264 runs at an average of 37.7, which is a solid return but perhaps less than what is expected of a primary Test opener.

Markram year was headlined by a single, exceptional score: a magnificent 136 scored during the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final against Australia, demonstrating his potential to take the game away from the opposition when he gets going. Apart from this century, he has not registered a half-century, highlighting a struggle to convert starts into big scores consistently. Markram’s style remains aggressive, with a healthy strike rate of 62.7, which is a critical part of South Africa’s Test strategy. However, the South African team will be keenly looking for him to shore up the top order in the tough Indian conditions, especially against a confident Indian bowling attack, to provide the platform for the middle order.

Also READ: India vs South Africa 2025: Eden Gardens Pitch Report, Kolkata Weather Forecast for first Test

Head-to-Head Battle: Mohammed Siraj vs Aiden Markram in Test Cricket

The head-to-head match-up between Siraj and Markram in Test cricket has been highly competitive, with the fast bowler gaining a clear psychological advantage by securing the batsman’s wicket three times. Markram has scored 32 runs off the 47 balls he has faced from Siraj in Test matches, giving him a respectable strike rate of 68.1 against the Indian pacer, suggesting he is generally looking to score when Siraj is bowling. However, Siraj’s ability to dismiss Markram, particularly twice in the 2024 series, underscores his threat.

The key dismissals occurred during the challenging South African tour of 2023-2024. In the second Test in Cape Town in January 2024, Siraj dismissed Markram in the second innings when the South African opener was on a magnificent, aggressive century (106 off 103 balls), catching him at mid-off. This wicket, though not securing a cheap dismissal, ended a crucial innings that was single-handedly giving South Africa a chance.

Siraj has also managed to restrict Markram’s flow of runs efficiently in certain spells, as evidenced by a low overall average of 10.7 against him. Markram’s relative success with a higher strike rate shows his intent to not let Siraj settle, but the low average confirms Siraj’s ability to eventually breach his defense or induce a false shot.

Aiden Markram vs Mohammed Siraj Head-to-Head (Test Cricket)

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