Break From International Cricket Gave Me A Chance To Reset: Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj has 10 wickets in six matches in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this season. His wickets include Rohit Sharma, Abhishek Sharma, and Travis Head. He was not at his best in the Test series against Australia, but since then, he had had a long break as he was not picked for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. 

The fast bowler believes that the break gave him a chance to reset. "My body feels fresh - obviously because I've been bowling after a break. Earlier, when I was playing continuously, I didn't always realise what I was doing wrong. But with the recent break from international cricket, I got a chance to reset," Siraj said in a chat with Cricbuzz.

"I watched videos of my bowling and spotted a few mistakes. I also realised I had moved away from the things that brought me success in the past. I wasn't bowling certain types of deliveries that used to work for me. So I've decided to focus on my strengths again. Maybe that's the reason for this success."

Siraj was the Player of the Match against two of his former clubs - Royal Challengers Bengaluru (3/19) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (4/17). 

Knowing the Bengaluru and Hyderabad venues helped him perform well at those venues. "When I was with RCB, I knew there was a certain way to bowl at the Chinnaswamy. It's a small ground, so I focused on attacking the stumps as much as possible. I knew that trying too much could lead to leaking runs. By keeping it simple and targeting the stumps, I managed to pick up wickets," he said.

When you move to a new franchise after spending seven years at one team, there are bound to be a lot of changes. However, Siraj says that he has adapted well, and the Gujarat Titans (GT) atmosphere is pretty relaxed.

"I was at RCB for seven years, and I've witnessed many ups and downs. Virat Bhai [Kohli] gave me a lot of backing during that time. My success graph did dip there at times. Chinnaswamy is such a small ground, so it's not always easy for bowlers. But in one season, I returned an economy rate of seven (7.52 in 2023), and in a way, I was enjoying my bowling there. I definitely enjoyed my stint at RCB," the pacer said.

"Here at GT, coach Ashu Bhai [Ashish Nehra] already knew me from my time at RCB and SRH, as he was with those franchises in different roles. He has given me a lot of freedom. The ambience here is much more relaxed. Freedom is crucial for a professional. 

"Players are under a lot of pressure, and it's important to create a relaxed atmosphere. Ashu Bhai creates that. He tells me, 'I know what you are capable of, so just enjoy your bowling.' For a player, such a display of trust and confidence is truly significant."

Speaking of Shubman Gill's captaincy, Siraj said, "Shubman is quite calm. We've been playing together for a long time and have grown up almost simultaneously in the cricketing world. We share a strong bond. He gives me the freedom to do what I want, and he doesn't take pressure. He stays calm on the field and always backs our decisions. For bowlers, having a captain who provides that kind of support is a big deal. It really helps us perform better. We're having a lot of fun."

While he was disappointed to have missed the Champions Trophy campaign, Siraj said that he had made peace with it. "For a professional, an ICC event is incredibly important. It's every player's dream to win one. I've always dreamed of playing in the Champions Trophy and doing well for my country, but perhaps it wasn't written in my destiny," Siraj said. 

"At first, it was difficult to reconcile, but I made peace with myself, focusing on improving and performing better. That has given me immense motivation.

"I started concentrating on my fitness and running. I spoke to Soham Bhai [trainer Soham Desai], who guided me with a programme to work on my fitness. Soham Bhai has been a crucial support system for me, both in the past and present. 

"When I first met him in 2018, I wasn't fully convinced by his methods. But he told me that to achieve big things, one has to sacrifice. I trusted his advice, and now, he knows my body better than I do."

Siraj and GT will next be in action when they take on Delhi Capitals (DC) in Ahmedabad on April 19 (Saturday).