India pacer Mohammed Siraj reveals fellow speedster Bumrah sends him messages about what line and length to bowl on any pitch after bowling on it
India’s Mohammed Siraj celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Sadeera Samarawickrama at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday; (right) India’s Jasprit Bumrah against Sri Lanka on Thursday. Pics/AFP
India speedster Mohammed Siraj landed early blows on Sri Lanka, dismissing opener Dimuth Karunaratne (0), skipper Kusal Mendis (1) and No. 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama (0) to play a crucial role in India’s huge 302-run win over Sri Lanka at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday.
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Siraj, who returned figures of 7-2-16-3, revealed how bowling with Jasprit Bumrah and timely messages from his new-ball partner are helping him bowl in the right areas. “When Jassi bhai bowls, he gets an idea about what line and length is better on a wicket. He relays the same message to us. I also speak with KL [Rahul] bhai, because from his position, he can see how much the ball is swinging or how much movement there is off the seam.
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“I am alert after receiving these messages—say the ball is not swinging, but I still try to find some swing, if there is nothing, then I switch to generating seam movement. It is very good for us as fast bowlers to get such messages and also for the team,” Siraj said when mid-day asked him about his tuning with the pace bowling unit and messages exchanged during the game.
Siraj was speaking at the mixed zone media after a one-sided game on Thursday night.
Bumrah (15 wickets), Mohammed Shami (14, including 5-18 v SL) and Siraj (nine) have shared 38 wickets in this World Cup and Siraj wants to carry the momentum forward. He said: “As you can see, our fast bowling unit is very good. If I am not getting wickets, Shami bhai is stepping in and taking them, or Jassi bhai. It is going very well for us fast bowlers. We speak about what line and length to bowl on a wicket. In the 50-over format, when you take a wicket or two in the Powerplay, the opposition team get pushed on the back-foot. It is very important to take early wickets and that is happening, so we want to continue with this momentum.”
When asked about his performance against SL, the Hyderabad pacer reckoned that getting the right rhythm will always remain a key aspect of his bowling. “Taking wickets is important and there is no doubt about that. But, my rhythm was not consistent in the last two-three matches. Sometimes I was in rhythm and sometimes I was not. I am not judging myself with [the number of] wickets. The fact that I was able to land the ball consistently [in good areas] and the swing I got that you saw, I am very happy about that,” Siraj remarked.
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