This IPL, Mohammed Siraj has been outstanding, leading the Gujarat Titans with crucial wickets such as those of Travis Head, Rohit Sharma, and Abhishek Sharma.
He talked about his accomplishments this season, adjusting to a new team, the disappointment of not winning the Champions Trophy, and other topics in an interview with Cricbuzz. A few quotes taken from the interview…
According to Ravi Shastri, you’re keeping things simple and not trying too hard. Is that correct?
Absolutely true. I’ve come to the conclusion that going overboard doesn’t really yield many benefits. I’ve been trying to live in the moment and take as much pleasure in bowling as I can lately. That way of thinking keeps me composed and is also helping me succeed. I’m more concerned with holding my line and keeping things straightforward than I am with chasing wickets. Above all, I’m having fun with what I’m doing.
Having said that, what aspects of T20 bowling have you found effective this season? With the new ball, have you been using it any differently?
Actually, not much. My bowling hasn’t changed all that much. It’s clear that I’ve gone bowling after a break since my body feels rejuvenated. In the past, when I was playing nonstop, I wasn’t always aware of my mistakes. However, the recent hiatus from playing international cricket gave me an opportunity to start over. I noticed a few errors in my bowling after watching videos. I also came to the realisation that I had distanced myself from the things that used to make me successful. Some deliveries that used to work for me were no longer bowling. I’ve made the decision to once more concentrate on my strong points. Perhaps that is the cause of this achievement.
Could you discuss your bowling stints at your previous chosen home field, Chinnaswamy Stadium?
I knew there was a specific way to bowl at the Chinnaswamy when I was with RCB. I concentrated on attacking the stumps as much as I could because the ground is small. I was aware that attempting too much would result in runs that leak. I was able to take wickets by keeping it simple and concentrating on the stumps.
Three really aggressive hitters, Travis Head, Abhishek, and Phil Salt, were all taken out by you. What preparations went into the matches?
My strategy was to deny them any width because they are all attacking hitters. It helped because the wicket in Hyderabad was quite sluggish. I concentrated on consistently hitting the proper lengths. They made a good shot, so excellent for them if they were still able to hit me. However, I didn’t do anything fancy and adhered to my ideas. I was successful because of that discipline.
And the wicket of Rohit Sharma?
I saw that the ball didn’t swing much after a few deliveries before I managed to get him out. Instead, I trusted the seam. I was aware that the batter wouldn’t know how much it would swing if I didn’t. So I stayed true to my length once more.
How has it been to play for a different team for the first time in seven years? What aspects of the Gujarat Titans’ franchise management are different from those of RCB?
During my seven years at RCB, I saw numerous highs and lows. I had a lot of support at the time from Virat Bhai (Kohli). My success graph did occasionally drop there. Because Chinnaswamy is such a small field, bowlers may find it challenging at times. I did, however, return an economy rate of seven in one season (7.52 in 2023), and I was sort of having fun bowling there. I had a great time working at RCB.
Coach Ashu Bhai (Ashish Nehra), who was with RCB and SRH in various capacities, already knew me from my time there. I have a great deal of freedom because of him. This place has a much more laid-back atmosphere. For a professional, freedom is essential. Because players are under a lot of strain, it’s critical to establish a calm environment. That is made by Ashu Bhai. “I know what you are capable of, so just enjoy your bowling,” he tells me. Such an expression of confidence and trust is very important to a player.
How is the captain, Shubman Gill, doing?
Shubman is really composed. We have been playing cricket together for a long time and have almost grown up at the same time. We have a close relationship. He doesn’t put any pressure on me and lets me do as I choose. On the pitch, he maintains his composure and consistently supports our choices. Having a captain that offers that kind of backing is very important to bowlers. It truly improves our performance. We’re enjoying ourselves immensely.
How is bowling on black pitches and red soil different or challenging?
Actually, not much. I have no trouble adjusting to the pitch conditions because I grew up playing in India and am very used to red and black soil grounds. I have a decent understanding of what to bowl and where to bowl it, having played on a variety of pitches. White dirt has more seam movement than red soil, although red soil has less swing. It all comes down to adjusting, and it’s not as difficult after so many years of playing.
The Champions Trophy eluded you. Did it make you angry?
An ICC event is very significant to a professional. Winning one is every player’s goal. Maybe it wasn’t in my destiny, but I’ve always wanted to represent my country and compete in the Champions Trophy. Reconciling was challenging at first, but I eventually came to terms with it and concentrated on becoming better. I am so much more motivated now because of that.
I began focussing on my running and fitness. I chatted with trainer Soham Desai, also known as Soham Bhai, who gave me advice on a fitness regimen. In the past and in the present, Soham Bhai has been an essential source of support for me. I wasn’t really persuaded by his strategies when I initially met him in 2018. But he informed me that one must make sacrifices in order to accomplish great things. He now has a better understanding of my body than I do since I followed his advise.
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