‘Not easy to take five wickets on a flat track’: Mohammed Siraj credits strength and conditioning coach to keep him fit

Jasprit Bumrah is still recovering from the stress fracture, Mohammed Shami is rested for the series and with Ishant Sharma is semi-retired, and in the absence of his senior pros, Mohammed Siraj stepped up and became the leader of the Indian pace attack in only his 21st Test.
On Sunday, Siraj showed why the team management has given him the responsibility and why he loves challenges. On a pitch, where there was nothing for the seamers, the 29-year-old hit executed his pland well and returned with his career-best figures of 5 for 60 on a placid track.
“I executed my plan nicely, especially when it started to reverse,” he told reporters after the days play.

“There was nothing much happening, so I planned to bowl stumps to stumps. Plan was simple to not give them easy runs and keep things simple.

Just reminding you all of this match too, where Siraj has taken a 5-fer. 👏
India lead 183 going into the 2nd innings! #INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/xNk2ZAdWrV
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 23, 2023
“I relishes responsibilities. To step in on the field with a responsibility on my shoulders gives me extra motivation and it is challenging as well and I like to accept challenges,” he said.
Siraj credited his second five-wicket haul to India’s strength and conditioning coach Soham Desai and said it was not easy to bowl in such a humid condition.
“It is not easy to take five wickets on a flat track. Credit goes to Soham (Desai) bhai, who has worked tirelessely on my fitness. I have been playing matches continuously and he makes sure that I stay fit,” he said.
“It was hit and humid and because of the rain, we were going on and off the field, it is difficult for a fast bowler to keep yourself charge. It is not easy to bowl long spells in such condition also,” he added.
West Indies proceeded carefully to reach stumps on the fourth day at 76-2 in 32 overs. With eight second-innings wickets left, the hosts need another 289 runs as they chase an imposing target of 365. West Indies opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul (24 not out) and Jermaine Blackwood (20 not out) are at the crease.
Siraj feels Day 5 would belong to R Ashwin as the ball has started to turn.
“The way wicket is turning I think Ash (Ashwin) bhai is going to clean it up,” he said.

Siraj had a special praise for debutant Mukesh Kumar, who got the first wicket of the day after he trapped Alick Athanaze.
“Mukesh is not a new player. He has done well in the Ranji Trophy on difficult wickets. It is not easy to take wickets in the Ranji Trophy because most of the time you play on the flat wickets. He has controlled his nerves exceptionally well and he executed his plans beautifully,” said Siraj.
India in their second looked in a hurry and scored at 7.5 runs an over — more than three times quicker than West Indies’ second-innings reply so far — to reach 181-2 declared in 24 overs in its second innings.

That’s a smashing way to bring your maiden Test 50*@ishankishan51
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.#INDvWIonFanCode #WIvIND pic.twitter.com/WIFaqpoGiD
— FanCode (@FanCode) July 23, 2023
Captain Rohit Sharma (57 runs in 44 deliveries) hit three sixes and five fours, while Ishan Kishan smashed a 34-ball 52 not out, his maiden Test fifty.
“Ishan is an aggressive batter. With no Rishabh Pant in the team, Ishan is someone who can fill his shoes. He has got the ability to hit the big shots. He was given a free pass to go and attack the bowlers. We wanted to get runs quickly and Ishan was our go-to man,” said Siraj on Ishan’s blering knock.