'Miyan, your dad would've wanted you to take fifer' - Mohammed Siraj reveals how Ravi Shastri supported him during difficult phase

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has opened up about the support he received from former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri when he had lost his father during the India tour of Australia 2020-21. Siraj’s father Mohammed Ghaus passed away in November 2021 due to a prolonged lung ailment. The right-arm pacer could not even return to India for participating in his father’s funeral due to strict quarantine restrictions.

The 28-year-old played his first Test match against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Siraj was a key perfomer for the Indian side throughout the series and managed to grab a five-wicket haul at the Gabba in Brisbane, where India created history by winning the Test and clinching the series 2-1.

I was depressed and shattered; Ravi sir supported me: Mohammed Siraj

“When my dad passed away, then Ravi sir supported me. He came up to me and said ‘see Miyan, your dad would have wanted you to take five wickets on this tour. I was very emotional, depressed and shattered. I couldn’t understand what was going on. We were under hard quarantine,” Siraj said on Backstage with Boria.

“I couldn’t figure what to do – should I have flown back home or stay here and fulfill dad’s dream. Then I thought that had I gone back, I would have had to undergo quarantine there as well. So I thought it would be better to continue being in Australia and fulfil my father’s dream,” he added.

Talking about his career, Siraj has represented India in 12 Test matches and has scalped a total of 36 at with an average of 29.64. In white-ball format, the right-arm pacer has played nine matches for his country including both ODIs and T20Is. The 28-year-old has taken ten wickets in the limited-over formats.

The Hyderabad-born pacer is also a vital part of his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore and will look to provide some vital breakthroughs for his team in the upcoming tournament. In 50 IPL matches, Siraj has scalped 50 wickets while bowling at an economy of 8.39. The pacer also has a four-wicket haul under his belt.