IND Vs NZ 2017: Mohammad Siraj Credits Ashish Nehra For India Call Up

India plays New Zealand in a three-match T20 scheduled to begin from 1^st November at Feroz Shah Kotla in New Delhi. Indian selectors have given youngsters a chance in the T20 series and rewarding them for their impressive performances in the domestic circuit. Shreyas Iyer and Mohammad Siraj have been picked up for the three-match T20 series. Mohammad Siraj came into limelight through his remarkable performances in the IPL.

The first T20 will be the last match for Veteran Indian speedster Ashish Nehra. Mohammad Siraj who played with Nehra in the IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad and has credited him for him getting into the Indian team: 

“I have played with Nehra bhai at Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2017. He has given me a lot of tips during net sessions. The tips helped me improve my game a lot.”

Nehra has had a long career marred by injuries and all through his career he has been a favourite amongst his teammates:

“He never made me feel that he was a player who has played 20 years of cricket. He treated me like a younger brother. He told me how to fool a batsman with variations. Ball aise pakad, aur aise daal (Grip the ball and bowl this way). Batsmen ke footwork ko dhyaan se dekh aur fir line aur length change kario (Watch the batsman’s footwork closely and then change the line and length accordingly). His pep talk has helped me take my game to next level. He has told me how to read a batsman’s mind,”

Siraj is hopeful of making his debut in Nehra’s last ODI:

“It needs a lot to serve 20 years to cricket. Nehra has done it. He is a legend. He deserves a fitting farewell. I am not sure whether I will play in the opening T20I or not, but If I will get a chance, it is going to be a very big moment for me. First donning India colours and sharing the same field with my favourite captain Virat Kohli and Nehra.”

Siraj’s father drove auto-rickshaw for a living and has had a tough time financially. However, he was picked for 2.6 Crores in the last IPL where his base price was 20 lakhs. Siraj said that IPL had helped him a lot and now he is stable financially:

 “My father is an auto-rickshaw driver. He has done a lot hard work to make me a cricketer. I didn’t want to let his hard work go in vain. Thankfully, I got the IPL call-up. IPL was a turning point. I am pretty good now (financially), I have seen tough times in my life. My father has provided me with everything without any if or but. He wanted me to represent India someday. I am a proud son now, I don’t let my father drive the auto-rickshaw anymore. I have asked him sit at home, relax and enjoy his life,”