Long breaks do not suit my body: Mohammed Siraj explains why his pace dropped during the Sri Lanka tour

Image Source: Getty

"I am a rhythm bowler; long breaks don't suit my body": Mohammed Siraj's candid admission after the Duleep Trophy

Mohammed Siraj, a key pillar of the Indian pace attack, has spoken openly about his workload and bowling rhythm. While modern cricket often sees fast bowlers given extended breaks to keep them fresh, Siraj believes his body functions differently compared to other bowlers. According to Siraj, staying away from matches for a prolonged period disrupts his rhythm and causes his bowling speed to drop.

Speaking after the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, Siraj admitted that the two-month break he took following the match against Afghanistan (June 8) worked against him during the Sri Lanka tour.

"Gym and nets can never replace match intensity"

Siraj said, "Every bowler's body is different, but mine doesn't handle long breaks well. A short break is fine, but in my 10-year career, I had never taken a two-month hiatus before. I was hitting the gym and bowling occasionally, but nothing can replicate the pressure and intensity of a real match."

Explaining the difficulties he faced during the Sri Lanka tour, he noted:

• "I am very much a rhythm bowler. If I'm not in rhythm, I can't generate that explosive power and pace at the crease."
• "My run-up felt disjointed in Sri Lanka. Some strides were too short and others too long; this broke my flow, causing my speed to drop to around 120-130 km/h."

Limited overs in Sri Lanka and regaining rhythm via the Duleep Trophy

During the Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle and Colombo, Siraj bowled a total of only 44 overs.

Amidst Chennai's scorching heat, Siraj bowled 41 overs across two innings against East Zone, delivering long spells:

• Need for long spells: Siraj explained, "That’s how my body works—the more overs I bowl, the better I get. I told both myself and Tilak that I needed long spells. I bowled spells of 10 and 11 overs, which helped me get back into my rhythm."
• No change to run-up: Despite wicketkeeper N. Jagadeesan standing close to the stumps during the match, Siraj did not shorten his run-up. He noted that his run-up relies on smooth acceleration and that his body has now settled back into the correct stride length.