India pacer Mohammed Siraj has had a roller-coaster of a career. When he was selected for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21 squad, the selection was questioned by many. However, the cricketer from Hyderabad proved all his doubters wrong. He made his Test debut in the second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Making a debut on a Boxing Day Test is special for anyone, but surprisingly, Siraj did not bowl a single over in the first session of the match. In an interview with Gaurav Kapoor on the show ‘Breakfast with Champions’, Siraj recalled that incident in a hilarious way.
It is not a common sight that a pacer is not bowling at all in the opening session at the MCG. Siraj said that he thought that whether he came in as a replacement for former Indian captain Virat Kohli or what. Just to remind, Kohli had missed all the matches after first Test as he came back home for the birth of his daughter.
Mohammed Siraj’s Hilarious Reaction To Not Bowling In First Session of Test Cricket
After a disastrous first Test in Adelaide where they got out for just 36 runs in the second innings, India made four changes in their Playing XI. Siraj was one of those changes and he made his debut alongside batter Shubman Gill. He revealed that Ajinkya Rahane (captain for the last three Tests) asked him to get ready to bowl from one end from the second session.
“First session to mai bowling kia nahi [I didn’t bowl a single over in first session]. Idhar se pehle Jassi Bhai aur Umesh Bhai ne daale first Ash Bhai aur Jaddu Bhai aa gaye [Jasprit Bumrah and Umesh Yadav started the proceedings then R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja got their chances]. To Maine socha kya mai Virat Bhai ka replacement hoon [I thought whether I am a replacement of Virat Kohli],” Siraj said.
“Break mai Ajju Bhai ne bola ‘Miyan’ ek end se tujhe hi daalna hai ab [Ajinkya Rahane said you only have to bowl from one end now onwards].”
Siraj highlighted that he loves playing the Test format of the game and getting Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne as his debut wicket was a big sigh of relief for him.
Bharat Arun Had Spotted Mohammed Siraj In 2016
Siraj’s story is one to remember for the ages. He started bowling with the season ball at the age of 19. It was former Indian bowling coach Bharat Arun who spotted Siraj’s talent. Siraj was a net bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2016, whereas Arun was working with Royal Challengers Bangalore.
When Bangalore went to Hyderabad to face the Sunrisers, Arun spotted Siraj and he asked VVS Laxman (SRH’s mentor) whether Siraj was playing for Hyderabad in domestic cricket. Arun then became the coach of Hyderabad and gave Siraj the opportunity to play in the Ranji Trophy. He scalped 41 wickets in the 2016/17 season and was the highest wicket-taker of the side.
In 2017, Siraj made his debut for the Indian team in a T20I match against New Zealand in Rajkot. Siraj is now a regular in all three formats of the game for India.
