A break that broke Mohammed Siraj and how he rediscovered it

Mohammed Siraj, the Indian pacer, recently returned from a rare two-month break after a grueling year of playing on the road. While most cricketers enjoy such a breather, Siraj's body was not accustomed to it. Upon his return to the Test squad, he appeared different, struggling for form and bowling at a slower pace. Siraj admitted that his body didn't handle long breaks well, and a short breather was fine, but two full months off was unprecedented in his 10-year career.

During the Duleep Trophy final in Chennai, Siraj tried different methods to regain his rhythm, including shortening his run-up. However, his pace dropped significantly. When he played the final, his lack of rhythm was evident, as he conceded 145 runs in 25 overs. Despite the poor performance, Siraj found a positive in the experience. He understood that his body needed time to recalibrate after the break.

In the second innings, Siraj slowly regained his rhythm and pace, bowling long spells with the new ball. He spent time with veteran pacer Mohammed Shami, who reminded him to return to his core strengths. Siraj's approach relies on fluid, uninterrupted acceleration, and when he is in rhythm, he feels like he can take a wicket every ball. His philosophy is to give 100% in every match, as that is the only way to earn the right to wear the national jersey.