Mohammed Siraj, an Indian cricketer, has been facing challenges in maintaining his performance during the recent Test series against Sri Lanka. He revealed that his body struggles to adjust after long breaks, which may have contributed to his drop in form. In the two-match series, Siraj managed only four wickets across four innings, raising concerns about his game.
This dip in pace was also noticeable during the Duleep Trophy final, where Siraj bowled at a slower speed of 125-130 mph in his first innings and failed to take any wickets. However, he showed improvement in the second innings, often reaching speeds close to 135 mph.
Siraj explained that a two-month break after the Indian Premier League (IPL), which ended in May, was the main reason behind his struggles. He described himself as a “rhythm bowler,” meaning he relies on consistency to maintain his pace. During the series in Sri Lanka, Siraj felt his run-up was disjointed, with some strides too short or too long, disrupting his flow and affecting his speed.
Siraj noted that taking two full months off is unusual for him, as he had never taken such a break during his decade-long career. He sees this experience as a learning opportunity moving forward.
Despite his challenges, Siraj remains a key player in the Indian Test team. Since 2020, he has bowled more overs than any other Indian pace bowler across formats. His main focus during the Duleep Trophy final was to regain his rhythm, which he achieved by requesting longer spells from his captain. Having Mohammed Shami, a fellow experienced cricketer, by his side also helped Siraj reconnect with his core strengths.
Shami advised Siraj to focus on maintaining his run-up and rhythm, which naturally leads to better line and length deliveries. Siraj admitted that in the first innings of the final, he was forcing himself to bowl, which disrupted his rhythm. However, once he corrected this, he found his full pace again.
As for what’s next, Siraj will continue to work on his game to overcome these challenges and return to his best form.