Plan was to stay in the present, says Siraj

The Champions Trophy selection was very important to me, but I told myself it’s not over yet. ICC events mean a lot to any player — but I knew I had to focus on my skills and fitness, Gujarat Titans fast bowler Mohammed Siraj said

HYDERABAD: “My plan was to stay in the present. The Champions Trophy selection was very important to me, but I told myself it’s not over yet. ICC events mean a lot to any player — but I knew I had to focus on my skills and fitness,” Gujarat Titans fast bowler Mohammed Siraj said.

Siraj said in a Gen Bold chat on Jio Star that he had to enjoy his bowling again and that was feeling confident and enjoying it a lot.

---

“I have played with RCB for seven years, so I know the team well. I was a bit emotional during that moment. But after that, you saw what happened,” he said.

“No player wants to underperform — we always want to give our best for the team. Even when we’re out of form, we aim to win, driven by our mindset, by our coaches, and our determination,” Siraj said.

“That’s always been my goal. Whenever I feel I’m not performing well, I turn to Arun sir. I remember speaking to him before going to Australia — he simply told me, ‘Enjoy your bowling.’ That stayed with me. It’s very important,” he explained.

“My first match didn’t go well — it was a high-intensity game after a long break. But I learned from it and focused on my bowling,” Siraj said.

“Against Rohit bhai, I tried swinging the ball twice, but it didn’t work. Then I stuck to my plan and got the wicket. I have a lot of respect for him, which is why I didn’t celebrate much,” he said.

“The most memorable moment was having my family in the stadium. Performing in front of them gives me a lot of confidence. My parents supported me so much and worked really hard — we’ve seen tough times. But when their son performs in front of thousands, they feel proud,” Siraj said.

“I felt amazing knowing they were there — it’s a different feeling, hard to describe, but I really enjoyed that moment. Even though I was technically a visiting player, it felt like bowling at home. That made it even more special,” Siraj said.