I will never forget this memorable series: Mohammed Siraj
“He would have been a very happy man today if he had been alive. I had tears in my eyes. He always dreamt that I would one day play for the country,’’ he said.
Hyderabad: Hyderabad pace sensation Mohammed Siraj said he was very emotional on hearing of his father’s death and thanked the team members for rallying around him in the hour of grief in Australia.
“Coach Ravi sir (Shastri) always coaxed and motivated me. In fact, every member of the Indian team motivated me because I was just recovering from my father’s death. We were in quarantine and we could not come out of the room. It was like hell. I just can’t explain how emotional being alone in the room when my father had died. It is still a mystery how I could gather my strength and come out of the depression. Actually, I’m a very emotional person and when I heard my father (Mohammed Ghouse) being no more, I was shattered. I came out strongly.’’
The 26-year-old speedster, who arrived along with fielding coach R Sridhar and administrative manager D Girish on Thursday morning, said he was grateful to the management, who supported him in a big way.
Siraj admitted that he was a little nervous when they went out to field on the first day of his first Test in Melbourne. “I was tense at the start. ‘Mujhe bowling karna hai’ but that pressure slowly disappeared and by the time I got to bowl after lunch, I was in a more relaxed frame of mind. I motivated myself and when I got the first wicket that of Marnus Labuschagne, I just couldn’t express my happiness.’’
Siraj dedicated all his wickets to his father. “He had been a big source of inspiration and always encouraged me despite the financial problems that he faced.”
On his celebration with Mayank Agarwal, he said that ritual was a part of tribute to his father.
Siraj did agree that he owed his rise to Rahul Dravid and Bharat Arun. “Rahul sir used to back me a lot. Whenever I had doubts, I would seek his help. He would only say bowl to your strengths and don’t think too much. Arun sir even told me the same thing. I owe my rise to Arun sir who guided me so well when he was coach of the Hyderabad team. He always stressed on the basics and he said I should enjoy my bowling.’’ The speedster added that whenever the National anthem was played, he remembered his father. “He would always say desh ke liya perform karna and win the matches for the country’’, adding “when the national anthem is played I close my eyes.’’
On the racial abuse in Sydney, he said the Australian crowd sledged him badly. “They said I was looking like a brown monkey. They would disturb me with constant abuses and finally I could not tolerate any more. I complained to the umpires. I told my captain (Ajinkya Rahane) Ajju bhai about the crowd reaction.’’ Talking about his memorable spell in the Australian second Innings in Brisbane, he said he had bowled very well in the first innings too. “I beat the batsmen on numerous occasions but I was rewarded with one wicket only. I was disappointed. Arun sir told me that I bowled extra ordinarily and that gave me confidence. I got pumped up and bowled with a lot of fire in the second innings. I was bowling to a good channel.
“The best wicket was of Marnus (Labuschagne). It was a back of a length delivery that rose and surprised the batsman. Whenever I hit the deck, the ball was doing something in Gabba. I was very happy to dismiss Marnus, who was the main run-getter for Australia.’’
He said it was a magical moment when Rishabh Pant hit the winning run. “I ran blindly onto the field. It gave me an emotional feeling that I was part of the team that was making history in Australia. I will never forget this memorable series.’’ Siraj added that these performances in Australia would give more confidence. “I don’t want to sit on these laurels. I want to perform and take more wickets for the country.’’
For the Hyderabad pacer, Jasprit Bumrah was like a big brother. “He used to help me a lot, giving the finer points on variations, the use of the angles and the crease. He would say one thing, have patience. I missed him a lot in the Brisbane Test, particularly when I was hit for a few runs.”
YOUNG SIRAJ: A young Mohammed Siraj (blue shirt) taking autograph from VVS Laxman at former Hyderabad opener Abdul Azeem’s house a few years ago.
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