Secret Behind Mohammed Siraj's Stamina Reveale: 'Rare Biryani, No Pizzas Or...'
Mohammed Siraj's brother has revealed the secret behind his stamina that is being praised all around the world.
Mohammed Siraj's yorker that got Gus Atkinson clean-bowled and sealed India's win in the Oval Test to level the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy was bowled at 143 kmph. It was one of Siraj's fastest balls in the series, and it was clear that the pacer didn't care that this was his 1113th ball of the rubber, the most for anyone.
Siraj was the only pacer across the two teams to bowl in every innings available to his team, and though he had moments and overs of low, underwhelming performances, he never relented in his efforts. When he got it right, the ball swung both ways, seamed unpredictably off the pitch, and gave no time for the batters to react.
He made it talk with an 80-overs-old ball, which is rare and unprecedented, and although some of it was down to sheer luck, Siraj made the most of it, perhaps more than anyone in his position could. In an interview after India's win, Siraj's brother, Mohammed Ismail, revealed that it was all due to his work on fitness.
'Yes, absolutely. He focuses a lot on fitness. He avoids junk food and maintains a disciplined diet. Even living in Hyderabad, he rarely eats biryani, maybe occasionally, and only if it's homemade. But no pizzas or fast food, he's very disciplined about his body," Ismail told India Today.
After the fourth day of the Test, bowling coach Morne Morkel had said that before the match began, the team was concerned about Siraj's physical and mental well-being due to his excessive workload, but the pacer rebuffed them immediately, saying he wanted to win it for India. And he did.
'100%, he never gives up, even when he wasn't selected for the Champions Trophy squad, he didn't let it demotivate him. Instead, he worked even harder. He hit the gym, focused on his fitness, and practiced hard every day — morning and evening. He identified what was missing and fixed it," Ismail added.
Siraj ended the series as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps and won the Player of the Match for the Oval Test.
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