IPL 2021: I Try To Bowl Test Match Line And Length With The New Ball, My Confidence Is Really High - Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj, the Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer, credited the international experience for his remarkable improvement in his IPL bowling. The seamer has made significant gains from his economy of 9.55 in the 2019 IPL to 7.26 in this year’s IPL hitherto.

In the meantime, he made his Test debut for India and flourished at the highest level. Mohammed Siraj returned as India’s highest wicket-taker in the Test series against Australia and also led the pace attack in the Brisbane Test in absence of the senior bowlers.

The 27-year-old has been superb while bowling in the powerplay in six IPL games so far; he says that he generally bowls the Test-match line and length – good and short of good length around off-stump – with the new ball in the IPL.

“Obviously, my confidence is really high. Playing Test matches has helped my line and length. When I bowl with the new ball now, I try to bowl the Test-match line and length and that is giving me confidence,” Mohammed Siraj said after RCB’s thrilling 1-run victory over Delhi on Tuesday.

“I always had that skill but got more experience by playing for India. Got to learn a lot from Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah after sharing the dressing room with them, and that helped my confidence,” Mohammed Siraj added.

I am confident about my yorker: Mohammed Siraj

Apart from his brilliant new-ball bowling, Mohammed Siraj’s death bowling, mainly, has been amplified this season and was once again on display while defending in the last over against a well-set duo of Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer.

Mohammed Siraj elucidated that he is confident about his yorker and will back himself to bowl it in any crunch situation. While the seamer missed the mark on the last deliveries and bowled full tosses, which Pant smashed to boundaries.

However, Siraj had contained the two left-hander’s brilliantly conceding just 4 runs off the first 4 balls, as RCB escaped by a whisker.

“I thought my yorkers were coming out well. So in a tough situation, I wanted to back something I could execute. I am confident about my yorker, so wanted to focus on executing that correctly. I had 14 runs to defend, and had the wide yorker too… Happy I was able to execute it well.

“If you are in a double mind, that happens sometimes [Jamieson missing his length and being hit for six]. But I only thought about executing my yorkers. Rishabh Pant and Shimron Hetmyer were set at the crease, and I was fine with it if I executed well and they hit a great shot off my bowling. My only focus was to execute my plans,”Mohammed Siraj explained further.

With the victory over DC, RCB climbs back to the numero uno position on the points table. They will next face Punjab Kings on Friday.

Also Read: IPL 2021: Won’t Give Rishabh Pant Even 5 Marks Out Of 10 For Captaincy, Virender Sehwag Slams Delhi Capitals Skipper After Loss Against RCB