The premier pace bowler Mohammed Siraj went through trauma during the 2020/21 Test series against Australia. He went through a lot during tough times and made his Test debut at Melbourne Cricket Ground. The news of his father’s death made him go into an emotional state as he was featuring for India in the Test series against Australia.
Siraj picked his maiden Test wicket by dismissing Marnus Labuschagne and played a key role in bowling Australia cheaply in the first innings of the MCG Test. Siraj lost his father Mohammed Ghaus after a brief illness in November 2020 when he was in Australia. He could not attend the funeral due to quarantine restrictions which were in place due to the COVID pandemic and bio bubble restrictions.
“‘In Australia, nobody could visit other players’ rooms as we spoke on video calls,” Siraj who features for Royal Challengers Bangalore in Indian Premier League told the RCB season 2 podcast.
Mohammed Siraj has been a key bowler for India in Test matches since making his Test debut and recalled how Ravi Shastri supported and encouraged him during the historic series win on Australian soil.
“I went to training the next day after my father’s demise and the head coach at that time Ravi Shastri told me that I have my dad’s blessing and I will picky five-wicket haul. When I took a five-wicket haul in the 2nd innings of the 4th Test match at Brisbane, Shastri told look what did I tell you that you will take a five-wicket haul.”
Siraj played in the first three Test matches of the Border Gavaskar series against Australia. He grabbed first wicket in Nagpur dismissing Usman Khawaja. During the second Test match at New Delhi, Siraj gave away 30 runs in 10 overs without taking any wickets. He was not given a bowling chance during the second innings as Ravindra Jadeja and Ashwin created damage.
Siraj was given just 6 overs in the first innings of the 3rd Test at Indore. He did not pick any wickets as Jadeja, Umesh Yadav, and Ashwin picked the wickets. With a limited target, the pace bowler was not given a chance.
Siraj has played a total of 18 Test matches so far with 47 wickets at an economy of 3.29 runs per over with best figures of 5 for 73.
Mohammed Siraj’s impressive performance in Test matches for Team India
Siraj finished as the leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets including a maiden five-wicket haul played a key role in helping Team India create history with historic 2-1 series win as Men in Blue had injuries to key players including Bumrah, Ashwin, Jadeja, Shami, and others.
The fourth Test match at Brisbane saw India having a young bowling attack including T Natarajan making his debut, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, and Navdeep Saini.
He played a key role in helping Team India register 151 run victory over England during the 2nd Test match at Lords. Siraj grabbed 8 wickets in the entire match and India came back from a tough position as Bumrah and Shami added an unbeaten 87 runs partnership to set England a difficult target.
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