Follow UsFormer India bowling coach Bharat Arun recalled the emotional struggles of Mohammed Siraj during India’s tour of Australia in 2020-21, when he lost his father during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the personal tragedy, Siraj made a remarkable impact in his debut Test series.
He claimed 13 wickets in three games at an average of 29.54, helping India secure a 2-1 series win even in the absence of several star players. The right-arm pacer from Hyderabad has since been a consistent workhorse for India in Test cricket.
Speaking to the Bombay Sport Exchange, Arun said: "It was the five-star jail. The manager was the only one to go. He got special permission, but none of us could visit him. It was really tough. We spoke a lot on the phone. We spoke on WhatsApp calls.
“But that was it. There's nothing like human touch. Shoulder to cry on, at that point, would have meant a lot to Siraj, but there was no shoulder to cry on.
“He got on a video call, and I spoke to him, then we asked him, ‘Would you like to go back?’ Ravi (Shastri) told me that it is so far away, so what can be done now? Siraj then told me that it was his father's dream to watch him play Tests. He said, ‘I will stay here.’ I thought that was outstanding.”
Recently, Siraj earned widespread praise for his efforts during India’s five-match series in England. He finished as the leading wicket-taker and was the only pacer from either side to feature in all five Tests, guiding a young Indian team to a hard-fought series draw.