Mohammed Siraj Explains Test Struggles After Two-Month Break From Cricket
Siraj says a long break disrupted his bowling rhythm.
India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has opened up about his recent struggles in Test cricket, attributing his dip in pace and effectiveness to a lack of rhythm after a two-month break from competitive cricket. The right-arm pacer said his performance suffered after returning directly to Test cricket following an extended period away from the game.
Siraj played a one-off Test against Afghanistan that ended on June 8 before taking a two-month break. He subsequently returned for India’s two-Test series in Sri Lanka, where he managed four wickets across the two matches after taking one wicket against Afghanistan. His struggles came into focus as India were held to a draw in the second Test in Colombo.
The fast bowler’s difficult run continued in the Duleep Trophy 2026 final in Chennai, where he represented South Zone against East Zone. Siraj finished the match with figures of 1/187 despite bowling 41 overs. Reflecting on his performances, he explained that his rhythm and run-up had not been at their best when he returned from the extended break.
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“I'm purely a rhythm bowler. If I'm not in sync, I simply can't explode through the crease,” Siraj said after the Duleep Trophy final. He explained that his run-up had felt disjointed during the Sri Lanka tour, with variations in his strides affecting his flow and ultimately reducing his pace.
Siraj said the Duleep Trophy final helped him regain his rhythm and prepare physically for the demanding season ahead. He also acknowledged the challenging conditions, noting that India had spent three and a half days fielding during the second Test in Sri Lanka before travelling to Chennai and playing in intense heat within a week.
Despite not producing a significant wicket tally in the Duleep Trophy final, Siraj said the workload would benefit him at international level. He stressed that representing India requires maximum effort regardless of individual results, adding that the hard work put in during the domestic tournament would help him as he prepares for the upcoming international season.
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