You Will Get 5 Wickets As Your Father’s Blessings Will Be With You: Mohammed Siraj Recalls Conversation With Ravi Shastri

Jun 3, 2021 at 2:59 PM

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You Will Get 5 Wickets As Your Father’s Blessings Will Be With You: Mohammed Siraj Recalls Conversation With Ravi Shastri

Mohammed Siraj ended up as the highest wicket-taker for India in the Australia tour with 13 wickets in the Border- Gavaskar Trophy 2020/21. India’s tour of Australia in 2020/21 was a memorable one for cricket fans.

Team India managed to defeat Australia 2-1 in the four-match Test series despite missing players like Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Hanuma Vihari, and KL Rahul during different parts of the contest. Several young players including Mohammed Siraj stepped up to the mark and performed exceptionally for India.

Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj

 

Mohammed Siraj Recalled Virat Kohli Showed Faith In His Ability While Ravi Shastri Told Him To Play And Pick 5 Wickets As His Father’s Blessings Will Be With Him

The 25-year-old pacer made his debut in the second Test in Melbourne and immediately made his mark in international cricket. Eventually, he ended up as the highest wicket-taker for India with 13 wickets in the Border- Gavaskar Trophy 2020/21. What makes his performance even more praise-worthy was that Mohammed Siraj had lost his father when he was touring Australia for series.

However, he decided to stay back to fulfill his father’s wish of playing for India. Mohammed Siraj recently revealed what India’s head coach Ravi Shastri had said when he heard of his father’s passing.

“Virat Bhai is always there. When I couldn’t perform well in the IPL two years back, he showed faith in my ability. He retained me in RCB and I am grateful for this,” said Siraj.

“When I lost my father during the Australia tour, both Ravi sir and bowling coach Bharat Arun sir were so supportive. Ravi sir came to me and told me- You play the test match. You will get 5 wickets as your father’s blessings will be with you. After Match Ravi Sir reminded telling me that I will be getting five wickets. I became very confident after my coaches encouraged me in such a way,” Siraj told ABP news.

Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli
Ravi Shastri and Virat Kohli. PTI Photo by Shashank Parade (PTI11_21_2014_000176B)

Mohammed Siraj also claimed a five-wicket haul in the second innings of the historic Gabba Test. Now, he will look to play a part in India’s quest for a World Test Championship title.

Mohammed Siraj Debuted In The Melbourne Test Alongside Shubman Gill

Both Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj were making their Test debuts in an India side that had been thrashed inside three days in the Adelaide opener. Playing alongside top international players in the Indian Premier League has developed a fearlessness in opener Shubman Gill and quick Mohammed Siraj, said India coach Ravi Shastri after the duo excelled in the second Test against Australia.

Shubman Gill (Express photo: Jasbir Malhi)
Shubman Gill (Express photo: Jasbir Malhi)

Replacing an out-of-form Prithvi Shaw, Shubman Gill produced fluent knocks of 45 and 35 not out in the low-scoring contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Right-arm quick Mohammed Siraj, coming in for injured seamer Mohammed Shami, bowled with relentless hostility to claim five wickets.

In the 3rd Test, with 97 overs to survive on the last day and eight wickets in hand, India scraped through under immense pressure led by the partnership between Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin that lasted 42.4 overs for 62 runs, to keep the series level on 1-1.

Even though Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara had set up India’s fight early in the day with a century stand that even gave the team a chance of a win initially, the highest praise will be kept for Hanuma Vihari and Ravichandran Ashwin for the character they showed. An under-pressure Hanuma Vihari had already hurt his hamstring, and Ravichandran Ashwin was welcomed by a barrage of short balls that dented his body.

In the 4th Test, Shubman Gill’s 91, Rishabh Pant’s 89*, and Cheteshwar Pujara’s 56 handed Australia their first defeat at Gabba in 32 years as India won consecutive Test series in Australia by a 2-1 margin.

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