NEWS
Follow UsMohammed Siraj is among the three players retained by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL), but it was not too long ago that he felt that his IPL career was over.
In 2019, Siraj leaked as many as fives sixes in his 14-ball spell as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) chased down 205. However, the following season, he redeemed himself with figures of 3 for 8 against the same opposition, which included two maidens.
"When I bowled those two beamers against KKR, people said 'quit cricket and go back and drive autos with your father'," Siraj told The RCB Podcast.
"There were so many such comments.
"And people don't see the struggle behind all this. But I remember when I first got selected how Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] told me to not listen to everything the people have to say about me. 'You do well today and they'll praise you and when you don't the same people will abuse you. So don't ever take it seriously.'
"And yes, the same people who trolled me incessantly back then say 'you're the best bowler bhai'. So, I know. I don't want anybody's opinion. I'm the same Siraj I was back then."
Speaking of his performance in IPL 2019, Siraj said, "2019 the performance with RCB was so bad that I thought that's the end of my IPL career. "But then I realised that I still have age on my side. So I decided to trust myself a bit and thankfully the RCB management also backed me a lot at that time.
"I almost thought any franchise in their position would have let go of a bowler after that kind of performance, but they backed me and then 2020 the game against KKR was a life-changing game for me."
Following an impressive IPL 2020, Siraj made his Test debut in Australia, although at the back of a personal tragedy.
"When the IPL got over, nonbody told me dad was so seriously ill. Whenever I called or asked, they'd say he's sleeping or he's resting, so I'd tell them okay don't disturb him. It was only when I reached Australia that I got to know that dad was in such a critical condition. I fought with my entire family ... 'why didn't you tell me sooner'. They'd say we didn't want it to affect your career or your concentration and it made me angry.
"I told them if you would've told me earlier I would have at least met him before leaving for Australia. When he finally spoke to me, all he asked of me was to focus on playing for the country, fulfilling my dream and making the country proud.
"That's all I remembered and that's the only reason I stayed back, because my dad wanted me to play for my country and make my country proud. I thought of leaving the day he passed, but his words were the only thing that kept me back in Australia.
"My dad used to save the cut-outs from newspapers if my photo got published after a good performance and standing there [on Test debut] singing the national anthem I couldn't stop thinking how proud he would have been and how proud he would have been of me seeing him in India jersey, playing for the country. His words kept ringing in my ears even as I sang the national anthem.
"Virat Kohli told me something I'd never be able to forget. After returning from Australia, he said 'Miyan, well bowled, what you've done in Australia is unbelievable. Nobody will be able to forget what you've done there. Keep at it and keep your focus on fitness and keep putting in the hard work.'"
Siraj has been retained by RCB along with former skipper Virat Kohli and Glenn Maxwell, who was bought by the franchise last year.