Team India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, who is only playing his 2nd Test, got emotional during the national anthem ahead of the start of the 3rd Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Incidentally, Siraj has had a rollercoaster ride making it to the highest level of the game.
With Ishant Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar ruled out of the entire series, a long haul came to an end when the Sunil Joshi-led selection panel picked the fast bowler from Hyderabad for the red-ball leg of the tour. While there might be reservations about Mohammed Siraj the white-ball bowler, but he has been of top-class in the longest format of the game.
157 wickets from 39 first-class games at an average of touch over 23 speaks volumes about the 26-year-old fast bowler. Coming from a humble background in Hyderabad where he only began playing in 2015 to making his Test debut in 2020 – the journey has been no short of a screenplay.
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Siraj’s father – an autorickshaw driver by profession did all the struggles to give his son the comfort of playing cricket and longed to see his son in the India colours. But unlikely, he passed away soon after Mohammed Siraj landed in the land of kangaroos. While the management wanted him to go back to the country, Siraj was determined to stay back and fulfil his father’s dream.
Mohammed Siraj gets emotional in Sydney
And the opportunity came in the Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground at the cost of Mohammed Shami, who was ruled out with a fractured arm. He immediately left a mark scalping five wickets and playing a key role as India made a historic comeback to level terms in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Meanwhile, as he returned for his second Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the young pacer got emotional during the national anthem ceremony. Tears rolled out his eyes and the music boxes played the customary national anthem before the start of the match. Standing beside teammate Shubman Gill, who is also playing his 2nd game, Mohammed Siraj was seen rubbing his eyes. And man, his father must be very proud of his son.
Watch the video here:
✊ #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/4NK95mVYLN
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 6, 2021
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Meanwhile, speaking of the Test match, Mohammed Siraj has provided India with a perfect start removing David Warner early. The southpaw, who is making a comeback after injury, didn’t look completely fit during his short stay at the crease. However, Warner showed intent to score runs from the start and it was a very crucial breakthrough from India’s perspective early in the game.
