Siraj goes from Gabba to abba
An emotional Mohammed Siraj drove straight from the airport to the graveyard and paid his last respects to his father on his return to Hyderabad on Thursday from a successful tour of Australia with the national cricket team.
Mohammed Ghouse, who had wanted to see his son play at the highest level for India, had died on November 20 last year about a week after the fast bowler landed in Australia with the Indian team. Siraj was advised by family members to stay back and play on, as his father would have wanted.
He did, and played a key role in India’s historic series win, taking 13 wickets (most by an Indian bowler) in three Tests, including a five-wicket haul in the fourth and final game in Brisbane.
Siraj laid flowers at his father’s grave and offered prayers before heading home. “I want to dedicate my performance to my Dad. I miss him a lot... at times I almost reached out to my phone to call him but realised he is no more,” he said.
Siraj also recalled help from all around. Senior pace partner Jasprit “Bumrah bhai supported me a lot and kept giving me constant tips with regard to bowling as well as mental framework during the series,” he said.
Then there was “Virat Kohli bhai who backed me while I was playing white ball cricket. As you know the chances for bowlers are rare in T20s and the 2018 IPL was a bad season for me, but he kept encouraging me. At the IPL last year, I got to learn quite a bit from Dale Steyn (RCB’s pacer),” he said.
Speaking about competition at the highest level, Siraj said: “There was pressure but I just wanted to go out and give my best. It’s time to relax now, only a bit though. I will continue to work hard, keep playing for the country as long as I can and bowl my heart.”