Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj says his body is not accustomed to long periods of rest. If he gets an extended break, his run-up gets disrupted, causing his bowling performance to become quite mediocre. Siraj made these remarks after regaining his rhythm during the Duleep Trophy final. He also discussed his lackluster bowling performance in Sri Lanka and explained the reasons behind it.
Siraj stated that his body does not respond well to long breaks. While players usually return refreshed and hungry for runs or wickets after a break, Siraj’s body reacts differently. After a long hiatus, his run-up loses its precision, and the ball does not release cleanly from his hand. Consequently, his bowling speed drops, and he fails to extract movement off the pitch.
“I am a rhythm bowler”- Siraj
After the Duleep Trophy final, Siraj said, “I am very much a rhythm bowler. If I am not in sync, I cannot deliver effectively from the crease. That was the problem in Sri Lanka. My run-up felt disjointed. Some strides were too short, others too long, which broke my flow and affected my pace. Every bowler’s body is different, but mine doesn’t handle long breaks well. A short break is fine, but in my ten-year career, I had never taken a full two-month hiatus before. I was working out in the gym and bowling occasionally, but no amount of practice can replicate match intensity. It was a new experience, but a valuable lesson for the future.”
Siraj’s regained his rhythm in Duleep final
During the Test series against Sri Lanka, Siraj’s bowling speed hovered between 120 and 125 kmph. As a result, Sri Lankan batsmen found it easy to face him and score runs. In the first innings of the Duleep Trophy final, his pace was low as well. However, he bowled several long spells during the match. Ishan Kishan and the East Zone batsmen scored heavily, yet Siraj kept bowling. By bowling long spells, he regained his rhythm and his speed climbed to 135 km/h, as well as the ball began to move off the pitch. Hopefully, Siraj will soon regain his 140 km/h pace.
For more news & updates, follow The Crichub on Instagram, X and YouTube
