Siraj Attributes Turnaround to Bumrah's Guidance After Challenging Home Season

Back in form with five wickets in India's brilliant come-from-behind win in the Perth Test against Australia, Mohammed Siraj has credited his senior pace colleague and attack spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for helping him turn things around after an ordinary home series against New Zealand.

The 30-year-old had a very tough home season, taking just two wickets in two Tests during India's disastrous 0-3 loss to New Zealand before the tour Down Under, but came back into his best form in the opening Test against Australia.

According to Siraj, it was a chat with stand-in skipper and No.1 ranked Test bowler Bumrah prior to the tour that helped him make a comeback in the series-opener in Perth where India recovered from a first innings collapse to 150 for a massive 295-run triumph.

"I keep talking to Jassi bhai (Bumrah)," Siraj said after India's six-wicket win over Australian Prime Minister's XI in a practice match here on Sunday.

"Even before the first match, I had spoken to him about what I was going through. And he just told me one thing -- don't run after wickets, just keep bowling consistently in one area and enjoy your bowling. If you still don't get wickets, then you come ask me.".

"So I enjoyed my bowling and I got wickets as well," he added.

Siraj also spoke to former India bowling coach Bharat Arun to help find his centre.

I just spoke with Bharat Arun sir that this is what's happening with me because he has known me for a while and has seen my bowling from a long time back. So, he just told me to enjoy and not run after wickets. Just enjoy and you'll get wickets.

"And before traveling, I met (fielding coach) Dilip sir in Hyderabad and we practiced together as well. So, it felt good and now I'm enjoying.

"Morne (Morkel, India's current bowling coach) keeps telling me that 'you are a warrior'. 'You'll get us wickets, but you just keep enjoying your bowling'".

Siraj seemed in good rhythm during the warm-up game against Prime Minister's XI, as it happened to be his first pink ball game. He sent the former Australian Test batsman Matthew Renshaw back.

The second Test against Australia, a day-night game, starts at Adelaide from Friday. It would be the first time he would be bowling with the pink ball under lights.

"The pink one gives off a synthetic feel. That's different from the red one. The seam is very hard. It is bright, and pretty large. The more you throw with it, the more you get better," said Siraj.

"I think 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," he noted.

"I have heard that the ball swings a lot under the lights but I haven't yet bowled with it under lights. So when we go to Adelaide and practice, we will try that. And the more practice we get, we'll know more about what we have to do."