I want to be a permanent member of the Indian team for a long, long time: Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj was the story of the India tour of Australia. The right-hander made his debut for India in the purest format of the game during the second Test match of the four-match Test series against Australia in Australia. Since then, there has been no looking back for Siraj as he grabbed all the opportunities that came his way to become a mainstay of India’s bowling line-up. 

The 27-year-old ended the Test series against Australia as the highest wicket-taker for the hosts with a stunning 13 wickets from three matches. After the Australia tour, Siraj played two Test matches against England and picked three scalps. The seamer flaunted his class in the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) too as he stunned the opposition with his yorkers and pace.  

The dynamic change in Siarj has made him more confident about his bowling. “Yes, I am more confident and mature now. Worked a lot on my line and length besides trying to improve my all-round skills as a bowler. Old Siraj is a story of the past, you will see a new Siraj for sure,” said Siraj as quoted by News 18.

Though Siraj has performed exceptionally well in the recent past, it won’t be easy for the pace merchant to make space for himself in the Playing XI. India has some really talented fast bowlers in the longest format including the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, and Shardul Thakur.

However, Siraj doesn’t fear the competition instead he is enjoying the healthy comparison. Also, the 27-year-old was all praises of the senior Team India pacers for always being there with them and helping him in learning more and more about the game. 

Having Virat Bhai as India captain is a huge plus for me: Mohammed Siraj

“It is a great feeling to be part of this Indian team which can beat the best on their home soil. Personally, I am enjoying the kind of competition I face for a slot in such a formidable outfit. The best part is that all the seniors are so good and open to giving invaluable tips. This is helping me learn a lot about the art of pace bowling,” the Hyderabad-born exclaimed.

Further in the interaction, Siraj lavished praises on the Indian skipper Virat Kohli for backing him and utilizing him in a proper manner. It is a secret to none that Kohli played a major role in helping Siraj reach where he is today. Virat backed Siraj during his stint with RCB and helped him in gaining confidence. 

“Yes, having Virat Bhai as India captain is a huge plus for me. Playing under him for four IPL seasons for RCB, he trusts me, understands my bowling, and knows how to get the best out of me. I want to be a permanent member of the Indian team for a long, long time. I know what kind of struggle I had gone through after a bad 2019 IPL season to push myself back into contention,” concluded Siraj.​