Lost my outswing after IPL: Mohammed Siraj on developing incoming deliveries for England Test

Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj made a strong comeback in the ongoing Test match against England after enduring a tough time in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Siraj was taken to cleaners in the 15th edition of the cash-rich league as he leaked runs at an economy of 10. However, in red-ball cricket, he has been exceptional for the World Test Championship finalists.

Siraj was the star for the visitors with the ball in the first innings as he took four wickets against England including the big one of Joe Root. Siraj said that he had lost his outswing after the IPL and had to work hard to develop a new skill, which is the inswing.

Speaking after the third day's play, Siraj in a press conference said, "After the IPL I lost the outswing so I worked hard on the swing. It might look great to bowl outswing but it might not fetch you too many wickets. So I had to work on bowling inswing as well."

Siraj, who took just 9 wickets in 15 games in IPL 2022 at an average of 57, made an early impression in the Edgbaston Test getting Root rushed on a bouncer, which he could only glove to the keeper. Siraj also picked the important wicket of wicket-keeper Sam Billings, who frustrated the Indian bowlers by adding a few late runs with the tail. In the end, he also accounted for the wickets of Stuart Broad and Matty Potts as he returned figures of 4/66.

By the end of the third day's play India extended their lead to 257 with the duo of Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant adding 50 runs for the third wicket. India ended the day at 125/3 in the second innings on the back of Pujara's gritty half-century. Siraj hailed Pujara for being the warrior he is, especially in some of the great overseas Test victories.