Mohammed Ismail, brother of Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, has opened up on the disciplined lifestyle that allows Siraj to sustain long bowling spells in Test cricket. The Hyderabad-based fast bowler starred in India's narrow six-run win over England at The Oval, picking up nine wickets across two innings. Despite featuring in all five Tests of the Anderson-Tendulkar Series, Siraj showed no drop in energy — sending down multiple extended spells, some lasting up to eight overs. Speaking to India Today after the win, Ismail highlighted Siraj’s self-discipline as a key factor. Ismail stated, “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." Siraj's ability to retain intensity across sessions has often been praised by experts. His performances at The Oval triggered crucial batting collapses for England, keeping India alive in the series finale. Snub Didn’t Deter Siraj, Says Brother Ismail also disclosed how the snub from India’s Champions Trophy 2025 squad failed to dishearten the speedster. Instead, Siraj took it as motivation to work harder. Ismail added, “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." Siraj ended the England Test series as the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets in nine innings. His final match haul of 9/190 earned him the Player of the Match award and helped India level the series 2-2.