Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj was subject to racial abuse in the third Test match in Sydney in the recently concludes series. Siraj, who ended the series as India’s highest wicket-taker said that the Australian crowd hurling abuses at him made him mentally strong. The 26-year old went through a lot during the series. He lost his father just before the start of the series but chose to stay on. As it turned out, Siraj played a key role in his team’s success down under.
Meanwhile, talking to ANI after returning back to Hyderabad, the Indian pacer said that the on-field umpires asked the Indian players to leave the field during the chaos but the crowd still booing him and hurling abuses at him made him mentally strong.
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Australian Crowd Abusing Me Made Me Mentally Strong: Mohammed Siraj
“Australian crowd started abusing me, it made me mentally strong. Not letting it hamper my performance was my prime concern. My job was to inform that I was being abused, I told the entire matter to captain Rahane. Umpires told us that you can walk off the field and leave the game but Ajju bhai told the umpire that we won’t leave, we respect the game,” Siraj told reporters at a press conference here in Hyderabad.
Mohammed Siraj picked up his maiden fifer at The Gabba and played a key role in India’s success against Australia. Upon returning back to India, the Indian pacer finally completed the last rites of his father.
“It was a difficult phase for me, I lost my father and it was a bit taxing on me mentally. I spoke to my family, they told me to fulfill the dream of my father, my fiancee also backed me and the entire Indian cricket team was behind me. It was an emotional moment for me today, I went to the graveyard. I entered my home, my mother started crying as soon as she saw me. I ate home-cooked food after a long time and it was really good to be back home,” said Siraj.
Siraj ended the Australia series with 13 wickets and also has been picked in the Indian squad for the first two Tests against England starting from February 5.
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