Last Updated on 10 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey

Mohammed Siraj has opened up on his struggles in the recent Test series in Sri Lanka, saying that a rare two-month break affected his rhythm and reduced his pace. The India pacer felt his run-up was not in-sync during the Tests in Galle and Colombo, which made it difficult for him to produce his usual impact.

Siraj was back in the domestic circuit for the East Zone against the South Zone in the Duleep Trophy final at Chepauk. He bowled at about 125-130kph and conceded 140 runs in 25 overs in the first innings. But he was a much improved bowler in the second innings as he found his pace and rhythm and finished with figures of 16-2-47-1.

Siraj: “In the second innings, I told myself to forget the result and just run in with good, natural rhythm”

“I’m purely a rhythm bowler,” said Siraj after the Duleep Trophy final at Chepauk on Thursday, as quoted by Cricinfo.

“If I don’t get in a rhythm, I can’t blow up the hole. That was the problem in Sri Lanka as well my run-up was all over the shop. Some strides were too short, some were too long and broke my flow, and some cost me with my pace.

“Every bowler’s body is different, but mine doesn’t take well to long breaks. A short break is fine, but in my 10 years in the business I’d never taken two full months off. I was training in the gym and sometimes bowling but there is no substitute for match intensity no matter how much you practice. “It was a new experience but a good learning curve for me going forward.”

Siraj also spoke of the physical challenge of playing in hot conditions after returning from Sri Lanka. Siraj had gone to Chennai for the Duleep Trophy final, and India had been in the field for three-and-a-half days in the second Test.

“We came from Sri Lanka where we played the second Test and fielded for three and a half days and in a week’s time, we were out here playing in the Chennai heat,” said Siraj.

“For me it comes down to passion. You can’t make excuses when you are representing your country. You have to do your best for your team and for your country. I didn’t get the wickets today but that hard work will pay off at the international level.”

Siraj looked in his element in the second innings and bowled a much better spell even when the Chepauk pitch was not offering any help. He had a good opening spell, dismissing Abhimanyu Easwaran and troubling Ishan Kishan.

“The wicket looked fresh in the first innings, so I tried to bowl too fast. I was forcing it, so my timing was off,” Siraj said. “In the second innings I just told myself to forget the result and just run in with good natural rhythm. The moment I did that the old Siraj was back, the ball was coming out beautifully.”

Mohammed Shami, one of the standout bowlers in the final, also felt Siraj improved once he got back to his natural rhythm. “Whenever I talk to guys whom I have played with or have a good bond with, I tend to focus on their skill,” said Shami.

“Siraj did not get into his natural rhythm in the first innings as he bowled late. I just told him that the way back to the top was to get back to his core strengths. Get your run-up and rhythm right and your line and length will come naturally. That’s all we were talking about.

Siraj feels that the Duleep Trophy final helped him get back to his bowling rhythm after the long break and the grueling Test series in Sri Lanka. “After two months your body doesn’t respond the same way everything is a bit slower,” said Siraj. “Getting through this game got my body moving again and brought my rhythm back.”