How Jasprit Bumrah's advice rescued Mohammed Siraj's lost rhythm

New Delhi: Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, hailing from Hyderabad, has credited teammate Jasprit Bumrah for helping him bounce back and regain his lost form. Siraj approached Bumrah for advice on his struggling bowling performance before the Test match. The Indian team's captain for the first Test match against Australia, Bumrah advised Siraj to focus on enjoying his bowling and not be fixated on taking wickets. Following Bumrah's guidance, Siraj performed exceptionally well in Perth and played a vital role in Team India's success despite the absence of Mohammed Shami. As India continues their tour of Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, leading 1-0 in the five-test match series, Siraj's resurgence has been a significant highlight.

Before the tour to Australia, Siraj had taken only two wickets in as many appearances during India’s home series against New Zealand. However, he returned to his best form in the opening Test against Australia in Perth, where he claimed five wickets in a crucial World Test Championship victory.

Siraj admitted that a brief conversation with stand-in captain and one of the best bowlers in the world, Bumrah, before the Australia series gave him the motivation he needed for the first Test in Perth.

Siraj revealed that he regularly communicates with Jasprit Bumrah, and before the first match, he shared his struggles with him. “I always keep talking to Jassi bhai. Even before the first match, I spoke with him about what I was going through. And he just told me one thing, don’t run (chase) after wickets, just keep bowling consistently in one area and enjoy your bowling,” Siraj was quoted as saying by ICC.

“Australia is a place where a pacer enjoys bowling because you get pace and bounce. As a pacer, you get everything you need, which gives you a unique kind of confidence to come and enjoy your bowling here,” Siraj added.

India will face Australia in the second Test, a pink-ball match, starting December 6 in Adelaide. This will be India’s first pink-ball Test in Australia since their dramatic collapse to just 36 runs in the second innings of the first Test during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“I think that with the pink-ball, it’s better to bowl back of length. Because pitching it up, there’s not a lot of swing, so the more you hit the deck and get it to seam, it will be better for us,” Siraj said.

This will be the Indian pacer’s debut in Adelaide, having previously played at all the other venues in Australia. Siraj has taken 18 wickets in four Tests Down Under, with an impressive economy rate of 2.82.