Mohammed Siraj has been rebuilding his bowling rhythm after a two-month break left him short of match sharpness and pace. The India fast bowler said the extended period away from competitive bowling affected how his body responded when he returned to the Test squad.

Siraj’s return came after a demanding year of international cricket. However, he found that time away from matches did not allow him to resume immediately at his previous level. He bowled mainly in the late 120s to early 130s kmph and said his body does not respond well to long periods without match bowling.

The Duleep Trophy final provided an opportunity to work through that difficulty. Siraj’s first innings was particularly challenging: he bowled 25 overs without taking a wicket and conceded 145 runs. The figures reflected a difficult beginning as he attempted to regain his timing and intensity in a competitive match.

A demanding first innings

Rather than treating the first innings as an isolated setback, Siraj used the match to rebuild his workload. The long spell gave him time in the middle, but it did not immediately translate into the control or pace he was seeking after the break.

His comments pointed to the physical effect of an extended layoff. Siraj said a lack of match bowling can make it difficult for his body to respond in the same way as it does during a regular run of cricket. That meant the process of returning involved more than simply resuming training or joining the Test squad.

The first-innings experience also gave him a base from which to increase his workload in the second innings. Siraj was able to take on longer spells and continue testing his body against the demands of competitive bowling.

Extended spells restore intensity

In the second innings, Siraj bowled seven consecutive overs with the new ball. He later delivered spells of 10 and 11 overs, adding the sustained workload that he believed was needed to recover his bowling flow.

Those spells helped him reconnect with the physical demands of match bowling. Siraj said the Chennai match allowed his body and timing to return to competitive intensity, suggesting that the experience of bowling extended spells was central to his readjustment.

The contrast between his two innings illustrated the challenge of returning from a lengthy break. He went wicketless while conceding 145 runs in his opening effort, then used the second innings to build continuity through repeated spells rather than relying only on short bursts.

Preparing for the Test squad

Siraj’s account places the emphasis on rhythm, workload and physical response as he works his way back. His pace on returning was mainly in the late 120s to early 130s kmph, while the extended spells in the Duleep Trophy final helped him regain the feel and timing associated with competitive bowling.

The match therefore served as an important step in his preparation after a rare two-month pause. Siraj has indicated that his body needed sustained match exposure to recover its intensity, and the second innings provided that opportunity through spells of seven, 10 and 11 overs.

With the Duleep Trophy final giving him a demanding outing, Siraj’s next challenge is to carry that restored rhythm into his return to Test cricket. The experience also underlined how important regular match bowling is for him after a prolonged break.