Mohammed Siraj, Indian pacer could not perform the last rites of his late father last month as he was in Australia with the national team but he made him proud by making India Test debut in Melbourne, his family said on Saturday. He has previously played a solitary ODI and 3 T20Is and represented RCB in IPL 2020 where he picked 11 wickets averaging 21.45 in nine games.
The 26-year-old Mohamed Siraj lost his father Mohammed Ghaus, who was an auto-rickshaw driver in Hyderabad, on November 20, around a week after the Indian team landed in Australia and he could not return home due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Mohammed Siraj Fulfilled Late Father’s Dream To Represent India In Tests : Ismail
His brother Ismail said it was his late father’s dream to see Mohammed Siraj play for the country in Tests and finally the dream was fulfilled on Saturday at the MCG.
“It was my (late) father’s dream that Siraj should represent India in Tests … he always wanted to see him (Siraj) in blue and white jersey to represent the nation, so our dream got fulfilled today,” Ismail told PTI from Hyderabad.
The family members were glued to the television sets since 4:00 AM to watch the proud moment of Mohammed Siraj playing for the country debuting in a Test against mighty Australia.
“Since the team was announced yesterday, we knew that he was going to make debut. We did not sleep the entire night, we switched on TV from 4am,” said Ismail, a software professional who now works as his brother’s manager.
He has already played one ODI and three T20 Internationals where he has 3 T20I wickets.
Mohammed Siraj Spoke To His Mother After Debuting In 2nd Test Against Australia
Every member in their family were waiting eagerly to see him bowl as he did not bowl in the opening session.
“We were waiting eagerly when he will bowl… intezaar badhte jaa raha tha (our wait was getting longer)… but after lunch break he started the first over and (the wait) ended,” Ismail said.
“It was a proud moment for us,” he said, adding it was an emotional moment for the family members who resides in Hyderabad.
Mohammed Siraj returned with figures of 2/40, claiming the wickets of Marnus Labuschagne and Cameroon Green. His brother Ismail said Mohammed Siraj did speak to his mother after the end of first day’s play.
“I chatted with him through messages, I did not disturb him much as he was tired and there is again play tomorrow. However, he called up Ammi (mother),” Ismail said.
He made his ODI debut against Australia at the Adelaide Oval on 15 January 2019 which was his first and last ODI so far. He made his T20I debut for India against New Zealand on 4 November 2017. He made his Test debut for India on 26 December 2020, against Australia. His first Test wicket was of Marnus Labuschagne.