In Tolichowki, a neighbourhood merely 7.7 km from Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station, a unique blend of historical mosques, bustling streets lined with eateries brimming with the warmth of the locals’ hospitality, children engrossed in cricket matches at every nook and corner.
Shahrukh Khan’s ‘Main Agar Kahoon’ from the movie Om Shanti Om resonates at full volume from every tape recorder in the vicinity, creating an environment that defies the ordinary. Amidst the bustling streets and the chaos where time seems to fly, individuals work tirelessly with two jobs a day, striving to provide for their families.
Yet, amidst this hustle, there are young dreamers who aspire to one day represent India in cricket, visualizing themselves scoring centuries or securing a fifer at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, which is about 14 km away, with a passionate crowd of 40,000 chanting their names fervently.
In the midst of this vibrant neighbourhood, amid all the commotion, was born a baby boy in 1994 to Mohammed Ghaus, an autorickshaw driver, and Shabana Begum, a housewife. This baby boy was named Mohammed Siraj, and little did he know that he would grow up to be a beacon of hope, illuminating countless dreams across the nation.
Fast forward a decade and a half, and cricket became an escape for the young Siraj from the harsh realities of life. At the age of 16, with slippers serving as his makeshift cricket shoes, he fell in love with the act of hurling a small yellow ball across 22 yards. His motivation was pure enjoyment, unaware of the potential financial rewards or the fame that cricket could bestow. He simply ran through the streets, delivering the ball as fast as he could.
The first turning point in Siraj’s cricketing journey occurred at the age of 16 when he secured a stunning nine-wicket haul in an innings while playing for his uncle’s society club in a one-day game. That night, he earned INR 500, a sum that felt like a fortune compared to the INR 70 he received for petrol to travel to practice while riding an old Platina motorcycle. Back then, INR 500 might as well have been worth 2.6 crore.
This society game marked Siraj’s initial realization of his cricketing talent, but he had yet to fathom how this talent would transform his life. As the years passed, talent evolved into potential, potential led to opportunities, and opportunities shaped into challenges.
Siraj’s determination to overcome these challenges eventually paved the way for a life-changing moment. He continued to do what he had been doing throughout his teenage years, bowling fast in Hyderabad zonal games, and his pace opened the door to a Ranji Trophy selection.
His debut in the Ranji Trophy arrived in the 2015-16 season, an overwhelming experience that didn’t translate immediately into consistent performance. At that point, Siraj was only a year into professional cricket, but the subsequent 12 months witnessed a remarkable transformation.
He changed, honed his skills, and fortified his mental game. With the guidance of Bharat Arun, the coach of Hyderabad at the time, he enjoyed a breakthrough year like no other. Siraj claimed an impressive 41 wickets, including a nine-wicket haul against Mumbai.
This time, it was not just pace but performance that unlocked the doors to the next stage of his cricketing career. After gaining recognition for his exceptional talent, he was signed by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for a significant sum, transitioning from lakhs to crores, eventually culminating in the astonishing 2.6 crore deal.
Life underwent a glamorous transformation, but Siraj remained humble and resolute, determined to exceed the limits set by destiny. Among Siraj’s standout qualities are his relentless hunger for success, his astute use of the crease, his ability to generate seam movement, his wristwork, and the swing he extracts from the new ball. However, what truly sets him apart is his attitude and mentality.
Siraj concluded the Australian series with 13 wickets from three matches
In the IPL 2021 season, Siraj played 15 games, maintaining an economy rate of under 6.8, all the while keeping his father in his thoughts as the driving force behind his journey.
With 39 IPL wickets, lucrative contracts with RCB, and enduring the darker side of social media, Siraj embarked on a tour to Australia in 2021. They say a promise, once made, is a promise kept, and Siraj’s moment in the sun arrived – a Test debut for India. However, it was a bittersweet moment, as his father didn’t live long enough to witness his son realizing his dream. Mohammed Siraj concluded the series with 13 wickets in three games, boasting an average of 29.53 and a memorable five-wicket haul at the Gabba in Brisbane.
He shed tears during the national anthem, his thoughts consumed by his father. He missed his father’s funeral, for playing Test cricket for India was a dream he couldn’t allow himself to defer. Two years later, Siraj is the Indian captain’s go-to bowler in tough situations. In the Asia Cup finals in Colombo, he delivered a brilliant performance, taking six crucial wickets to thwart the hosts’ challenge.
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