Mohammed Siraj’s reduced pace in Galle Test raises fitness questions
Mohammed Siraj’s noticeably lower bowling speed during India’s first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium has prompted questions about whether the pacer is carrying an injury, with discussions intensifying around Day 3 of the match.
Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of India’s two-Test tour of Sri Lanka, and Siraj was assigned to lead the pace attack alongside Prasidh Krishna for the series. All the Indian players returned to the Test setup after brief limited-overs action in England, but Siraj had been left out of the ODIs, a break that the article said was expected to help him restore fitness. Siraj’s most recent appearance before this series was the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June 2026, and fans and some experts have expressed doubts about whether he is fully fit.
The speculation over Siraj’s physical condition gained traction during India’s warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo, where observers noted an absence of his usual pace. Former Indian cricketer and pundit Murali Kartik raised concerns about Siraj’s outing, saying there was a clear lack of his signature zip, aggressive carry and any kind of pace-bowling hostility. The warm-up observations carried over into the Galle Test and fed the ongoing debate about his readiness.
Analysing raw speed, Siraj’s deliveries were recorded at around 126.57 kmph, a figure the piece contrasted with his regular average near the 140 kmph mark. Among the four seamers who bowled across the two innings in the Galle Test, the article stated Siraj’s deliveries were the least off the deck. The report noted that the drop in operational pace appeared uncanny for a bowler with a reputation for running in hard regardless of conditions.
On Day 3, Siraj took the new ball on what the article described as a relatively slower surface and struck early by dismissing Sri Lankan opener Nishan Madushka for a duck. He bowled a short spell of four overs and, according to the report, was not returned to the attack by skipper Gill later in the innings. Despite the lower speeds, the piece credited Siraj with effectiveness through pronounced seam movement and tactical precision during that spell.
India’s team management, as cited in the article, has stated that Siraj is completely fit and suggested his altered pace could be an adaptation to cope with subcontinental heat and conditions that are unfavourable to raw pace. The write-up reiterated that, with Bumrah unavailable, Siraj has been handed the responsibility of spearheading India’s seam attack alongside Prasidh Krishna for the series.
The match in Galle is the first of the two-Test series between India and Sri Lanka, and the article noted that Siraj remains the lead pacer for India as the series continues, with one Test still to be played.
