INTERNATIONAL CRICKET

Mohammed Siraj: Cried often in my room after Father’s Demise

Siraj

During India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21, Mohammed Siraj faced a difficult emotional phase after his father, Mohammed Ghaus, passed away. Despite the tragic news, Siraj decided to stay back in Australia and continue playing for his country.

He was unable to return home due to COVID-19 restrictions and had to tackle the emotional turmoil while focusing on cricket.

To everyone’s surprise, Siraj made an impressive debut, taking five wickets in the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He then went on to pick up a five-wicket haul in Australia’s second innings in the fourth and final Test in Brisbane, which led to India’s historic 2-1 series triumph.

EVERYONE IN THE TEAM WAS SUPPORTIVE: MOHAMMED SIRAJ

During an episode of the RCB Season 2 Podcast, Siraj opened up about the challenges he faced while staying inside the bio-bubble during the Down Under tour and how he handled the racism episode that occurred during that time. He shared that he would often cry in his room due to the emotional turmoil he was experiencing.

“In Australia, nobody could visit other players’ rooms as we spoke on video calls. But Sridhar sir (former India fielding coach R Sridhar) used to call often asking ‘how are you? what have you eaten?’. It was a good feeling and my fiance was also talking to me (over phone) at that time. I never cried on the phone but there were occasions when I would cry in the room and then will talk to her later,”

said Siraj.

“I went to training the next day after my father’s demise and Ravi Shastri told me that I have my dad’s blessing and I will take a five-wicket haul. When I took five wickets at Brisbane, he told me: ‘Look, what did I tell you that you will take five wickets’.

Siraj further added.

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