NEW DELHI: For Mohammed Siraj, visiting his father’s grave earlier than and after cricket tour is a particular routine. Earlier than leaving for any event, he goes to his father’s grave to hope and search blessings. And when he returns, he goes straight there from the airport earlier than going house.Siraj misplaced his father, Mohammed Ghouse, in 2021 whereas he was on tour to Australia. Since then, this ritual has helped him keep linked to his father, who was an auto-rickshaw driver and performed an enormous position in supporting Siraj’s dream of turning into a cricketer.
Earlier than leaving for England in June, Siraj packed his luggage, hugged his mom, and instructed her, “Ammi, mere liye dua karna. Foremost achha karun aur India ko jitau [Mom, pray for me. I want to do well and win for India].” As per ritual, he then went to his father’s grave to hope earlier than heading to the airport.
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What evokes you extra about Mohammed Siraj?
“Apne abbu se bahot pyar karta hai [Siraj loves his father dearly]. And his father beloved him simply as a lot — he would have finished something for him. My prayers are all the time with Siraj. Might Allah bless my bachha with success in every little thing,” his mom Shabana Begum instructed TimesofIndia.com.Shabana by no means misses a match when Siraj is taking part in. She watched each sport of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, clapping, cheering, and providing 5 prayers each day. In Islam, these each day prayers occur at daybreak (Fajr), midday (Dhuhr), afternoon (Asr), sundown (Maghrib), and night time (Isha). She didn’t miss a single one in the course of the England tour.Her prayers appeared to be with him all through. Siraj performed a key position in India’s dramatic win within the fifth Check at The Oval, serving to degree the collection 2-2.
Mohammed Siraj gained the Participant of the Match at The Oval within the fifth Check between England and India.
“Ammi all the time prays for bhai. There’s loads of energy in a mom’s prayer. I consider it’s due to each our dad and mom’ blessings that he’s in an excellent area and doing effectively for India. He video calls Ammi each day to get her blessings. She all the time tells him, ‘Hamesha tarakki kar, naam roshan kar’ (Continue to grow, make us proud),” mentioned his brother, Mohammed Ismail.Ismail added, “Abbu used to say, ‘Beta, ek din tujhe bahut naam kamana hai. India ke liye khelna hai.’ When he handed away in the course of the Australia tour, Siraj was shattered. However Ammi instructed him, ‘Jo ho gaya, so ho gaya. Ab sport pe dhyan do (What’s finished is completed, now focus in your sport).’”Siraj was in Australia when Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri gave him the heartbreaking information. Emotionally damaged, Siraj discovered energy by way of his teammates and responded by turning into India’s highest wicket-taker within the collection, claiming 13 wickets in three Assessments, together with a five-wicket haul — a tribute to the person who believed in him probably the most.SIRAJ – A WORKHORSE
The place the main focus had been on Jasprit Bumrah’s workload administration and indisputable fact that he would play three Assessments, Mohammed Siraj largely flew beneath the radar in that division.Since 2020, Siraj is the player with most matches played for India – greater than Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, R Ashwin and even Bumrah.ALSO READ | Mohammed Siraj: A warrior, who never stopped believingAs Bumrah performed three Assessments, as deliberate, Siraj bowled his coronary heart out, frequently hitting the suitable areas, troubling batters, beating batters, getting edges, shut LBW calls, elicit “ohhs” and “aaahs” from the group, and, because the fifth Check was proof, stored the followers on the sting of their seats.Siraj bowled 1113 balls (185.3 overs) within the collection – probably the most by any bowler.Siraj signed off the England Check collection as the best wicket-taker with 23 wickets.
Mohammed Siraj along with his late father. (Picture: Particular Association)
“Abbu ke liye khelna hai, unka sapna jiyunga most important. That is what Siraj all the time says. Health is on one other degree for him now. And it’s all due to Virat Kohli. He takes loads of inspiration from Virat. He’s greater than his elder brother. The aggression and starvation, he has taken from Virat,” Ismail mentioned.“In 2018, Siraj had a horrible IPL season. A number of questions had been raised, however at the moment, Virat bhaia stood by him and supported him. He knew what qualities Siraj had. He backed Siraj and gave loads of possibilities to him at each RCB and within the India workforce. All of the credit score goes to Virat bhaia. There have been instances when Siraj has confessed that he owes his profession to Virat bhai. And that is completely true. He was keen on biryani, and now he eats it – and that too, not often – after getting some pep discuss from Virat bhaia,” he mentioned.“Siraj is a unique participant now. After not being picked within the ICC Champions Trophy, Siraj was upset. Actually upset. He was heartbroken. However he grew to become a unique individual. He began working towards an increasing number of. There was some onerous coaching and a strict regime concerned then. Now, the outcomes are in entrance of us. That hole between the Champions Trophy and the IPL gave him loads of time to coach each mentally and bodily. That interval did him loads of good. He then performed the IPL and carried out effectively, and now in England, he’s the best wicket-taker,” the brother mentioned.BIG RONALDO FANAfter India’s thrilling win at The Oval, Siraj revealed that on the morning of the match, he downloaded an image of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo. The picture had the phrase “Imagine” written on it — and that single phrase grew to become Siraj’s supply of motivation as he went on to play a key position in India’s historic win.Siraj’s admiration for Ronaldo isn’t any secret. Taking a wicket and celebrating with Ronaldo’s iconic “Siuuu” celebration has turn into his trademark.“He has huge posters of Ronaldo in his room. We dwell in a penthouse, and he’s even constructed a mini-theatre there the place he watches Ronaldo’s matches. He by no means misses a single one. All we hear is his cheering and shouting at any time when Ronaldo is taking part in,” Siraj’s brother Ismail signed off.
