Twitterati hails the rags to riches story of Mohammad Siraj

When Mohammad Siraj, the Hyderabad fast bowler, would spend day after day playing street cricket and local tournaments, his parents weren’t much happy. His older brother was already into engineering and his parent wanted the same for him. His mother tried to mend him with a stricter approach and even gave him few beatings for his cricket obsession. But the budding right arm fast bowler was defiant and didn’t let such pressure lessen his love for the sport.

Now, a few years later, his parent are convinced and relieved seeing witnessing Siraj quickly emerge as one of the most promising fast bowlers in the country. Bowling raw pace is his passion. The twenty-two-year-old found his calling in playing cricket. In his first full Ranji Trophy season, he emerged as one of the leading wicket-takers in the tournament. He had 41 wickets to his name at the end of the league stage.

Came the IPL auctions and the dream run only got better. Mohammed Siraj, son of an auto driver, landed a deal worth INR 2.6 crores. The boy from Hyderabad will play for his home side, Sunrisers Hyderabad. He has not only made his family proud but has given 100 other struggling players a glimmer of hope. Based at just 20 lakhs he was fought for, by the Hyderabad franchise.

Siraj was talking to CNN-News18 and said that it was his dream to play in the IPL and thanked his family for supporting him. He said, “I am very happy and did not expect this amount. I want to thank my family for all their support. Now, I want to improve on my bowling and give my best performances.”

Siraj’s father also talked to the press. He was proud of his boy; all of Hyderabad is proud of him. He said that his son never wanted him to drive an auto. “My son always wanted me to leave auto rickshaw. Now if he says so, I have no option but to listen to him,” said Siraj’s father. The story is certainly an emotional roller coaster. And the Twitter world is definitely awe-inspired by his rags to riches story.

Here are some of the best tweets about Mohammad Siraj: