Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Mohammed Siraj Rebuilds Rhythm After Two-Month Cricket Break
Mohammed Siraj took two months away from competitive cricket.
He said this long break made it difficult for his body to return to its normal bowling rhythm.
During India’s Tests in Sri Lanka, his run-up felt uneven and his pace dropped.
Siraj says he bowls best when he regularly delivers long spells.
He then played for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai.
He gave away many runs in the first innings, but the match helped his body adjust again.
He bowled 41 overs during the final.
Mohammed Shami advised him to return to his basic strengths and natural rhythm.
Siraj improved in the second innings and felt that his usual bowling was returning.
Mohammed Siraj said a rare two-month break disrupted his run-up, rhythm and pace during India’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka.
He bowled 44 overs across four innings in Sri Lanka and took four wickets while operating below his usual pace.
In the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, Siraj conceded either 140 or 145 runs in 25 first-innings overs without taking a wicket, according to differing reports.
Siraj bowled 41 overs for South Zone and said longer spells helped restore his physical readiness and natural rhythm.
After advice from Mohammed Shami, Siraj focused on a natural run-up and improved in the second innings, when one report recorded figures of 1-47 from 16 overs.
- Who
- Mohammed Siraj was the main player involved, with advice from Mohammed Shami and support from India’s selectors.
- What
- Siraj explained that a two-month break affected his pace and rhythm, then described how extended bowling spells helped him recover during the Duleep Trophy final.
- When
- The problems occurred during India’s two-Test Sri Lanka series, while his recovery was discussed after the Duleep Trophy final on Thursday.
- Where
- Siraj struggled during the Sri Lanka tour and worked to regain his rhythm at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
- Why
- Siraj said his body does not handle long breaks well and that training cannot fully reproduce match intensity.
- Break length
- Two months
- Sri Lanka workload
- 44 overs across four innings and four wickets
- Duleep Trophy workload
- 41 overs for South Zone in the final
- First-innings figures
- Reports differed between 140 and 145 runs conceded in 25 overs without a wicket
- Second-innings figures
- One report recorded 1-47 from 16 overs
- Key adjustment
- Siraj stopped forcing extra pace and concentrated on his natural rhythm
- Advice
- Mohammed Shami urged him to return to his core strengths
Sources
'My Rhythm Wasn't Quite There': Siraj On Why He Struggled In Sri Lanka Tests
'I'm Purely a Rhythm Bowler': Mohammed Siraj Explains How His Two-Month Break Impacted His Pace and Bowling
A break that broke Mohammed Siraj and how he rediscovered it