Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has attributed his recent dip in form during the two-Test series against Sri Lanka to an extended two-month break that affected his bowling rhythm and pace.
Hyderabad pacer Mohammed Siraj came under scrutiny following an underwhelming performance during India's recent Test tour of Sri Lanka, where he claimed just four wickets across the two-match series. The 32-year-old took one wicket in each of the four innings, and his form struggles continued into the Duleep Trophy final, where he managed a single wicket in South Zone's defeat to East Zone.
Addressing his recent performances, Siraj explained that an extended break following June's one-off Test against Afghanistan was the root cause of his rhythm issues. "Coming off a two-month break straight into a match, my rhythm wasn’t quite there," Siraj said. "After two months off, your body doesn’t react the same way — everything feels a beat slower. Getting through this game got my body moving again and brought my rhythm right back."
The right-arm bowler acknowledged that while workload management is a key focus in modern cricket, his body does not respond well to long lay-offs. "Every bowler’s body is different, mine doesn’t handle long breaks well. A short breather is fine, but in my career, I had never taken two full months off," Siraj noted. He added that while he maintained fitness in the gym and bowled occasionally, no amount of practice can replicate actual match intensity.
During the series in Sri Lanka, Siraj struggled with his speed, operating in the 120-130 kph range and failing to hit 140 kph. He pinpointed a disjointed run-up as the main reason for his reduced pace. "I’m purely a rhythm bowler. If I’m not in sync, I can’t explode through the crease. That was the struggle in Sri Lanka — my run-up felt disjointed. Some strides were too short, others were too long, and that broke my flow and cost me pace," he stated.
Siraj showed signs of recovery during the second innings of the Duleep Trophy final after adjusting his mindset. Reflecting on the adjustment, he said: "In the first innings, the pitch looked fresh, so I tried to bowl too fast. Because I was forcing it, my rhythm was off. In the second, I told myself to forget the outcome and just run in with good, natural rhythm. The moment I did that, the old Siraj was back in action, and the ball started coming out beautifully."
Reporting sourced from The Hindu Sport. Photo courtesy The Hindu Sport.