Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has opened up about how a rare two-month break from competitive cricket affected his bowling rhythm. The right-arm pacer said that his body does not respond well to long periods without cricket, which left him feeling sluggish and affected his run-up and pace.
Siraj recently played for South Zone in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final against East Zone at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He returned to domestic red-ball cricket after India’s 1-0 Test series win in Sri Lanka. The pacer struggled to find his rhythm during the Tests in Galle and Colombo.
Mohammed Siraj Explains How a Long Break Affected His Rhythm
Mohammed Siraj said that match practice is particularly important for him because his bowling depends heavily on rhythm. He added that his body responds differently to long breaks compared to shorter periods away from cricket.
"I'm purely a rhythm bowler," Siraj said after the Duleep Trophy final on Thursday. "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."
"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 two full months off. 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 learning curve for me going forward."
Mohammed Siraj Struggles in First Innings of Duleep Trophy Final
Mohammed Siraj endured a difficult outing after East Zone chose to bat first at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. He found some early movement, with his first delivery beating Abhimanyu Easwaran's bat, but he struggled once the pitch settled.
The right-arm pacer bowled at around 125-130kph and conceded 41 runs in his first five overs. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi attacked him early, and Siraj eventually finished the innings without a wicket, giving away 140 runs in 25 overs at an economy rate of 5.60.
The conditions in Chennai added to the challenge after the long Sri Lanka series. Siraj, however, refused to use the heat or workload as an excuse.
"We came straight from Sri Lanka, where we spent three-and-a-half days fielding in the second Test, and within a week, we were out here playing in Chennai's sweltering heat," Siraj said.
"But for me, it comes down to passion. When you're representing your country, you can't make excuses. You have to give every bit of your effort for your team and nation. Even if I didn't get the wickets to show for it today, that hard work will pay off at the international level."
Mohammed Siraj Finds His Rhythm Again in Second Innings
Mohammed Siraj looked much sharper in South Zone's second innings. He increased his pace to around 135kph and generated movement despite the Chepauk surface offering limited assistance to the bowlers.
He troubled Ishan Kishan from around the wicket and found Abhimanyu Easwaran's outside edge. Siraj finished the innings with 16-2-47-1. He said he stopped forcing his pace and focused on finding his natural rhythm.
"In the first innings, the pitch looked fresh, so I tried to bowl too fast. Because I was forcing it, my rhythm was off," Siraj said. "In the second innings, 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, and the ball started coming out beautifully."
"After two months off, your body doesn't react the same way - everything feels a bit slower," Siraj said. "Getting through this game got my body moving again and brought my rhythm right back."
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