Mohammed Siraj’s Extended Batting Session Signals Strategic Shift Ahead of 2nd Test
Mohammed Siraj’s unusual focus on batting during India’s net session at Edgbaston has caught the attention of cricket enthusiasts and experts alike, especially following India’s lower-order collapse in the first Test at Headingley. With key pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Prasidh Krishna absent from Friday’s training, Siraj’s extended batting practice stood out, hinting at a strategic adjustment by the team management.
India’s tail-end batting struggled significantly in the series opener, losing 13 wickets for just 72 runs across both innings. This fragile lower order was a major factor in England’s successful chase of 371 runs, which they achieved with five wickets in hand. The inability of the tail to add crucial runs under pressure compounded India’s challenges, emphasizing the need for improvement in this area.
In response, Siraj’s concentrated efforts in the nets appear to be a quiet but clear signal from the management to strengthen the team’s tail resilience. Under the guidance of batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, Siraj dedicated considerable time to refining his defensive batting technique. He practiced essential skills such as ducking under short deliveries, leaving balls outside the off stump, and executing soft-handed forward defences—skills crucial for a lower-order batsman tasked with survival rather than scoring aggressively.
Siraj, primarily known for his pace bowling, is not typically regarded as a reliable batsman. Therefore, this focused training session is significant and suggests a conscious effort to prepare him to contribute more effectively with the bat in challenging situations. It also reflects the team’s larger strategy to avoid the mistakes seen in the first Test by enhancing tail-end resistance.
This development may also be influenced by inputs from former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir and other experts, who have repeatedly emphasized the importance of tail-end batting in Test cricket. Strengthening the lower order can add valuable runs, reduce pressure on top-order batsmen, and ultimately make India’s batting lineup more robust.
As the team prepares for the crucial second Test at Edgbaston, Siraj’s batting practice could well be the start of a tactical shift aimed at addressing a glaring weakness and improving India’s chances of leveling the series.
