Bollywood Legend's Heartfelt Tribute to Cricket Star
Veteran Bollywood actor Dharmendra, who passed away on Monday at age 89, was not just an iconic film star but also a passionate cricket enthusiast. Among his many memorable moments was his emotional tribute to Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj back in January 2021, when the cricketer displayed extraordinary dedication to the national team despite facing personal tragedy.
Siraj's Heartbreaking Choice in Australia
During November 2020, while Mohammed Siraj was completing his 14-day COVID-19 quarantine in Australia ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, he received devastating news from home. His father, Mohammed Ghouse, had passed away due to a lung ailment.
Despite having the option to return home, the then 26-year-old pacer made the difficult decision to stay in Australia. He chose to fulfill his father's dream of seeing him play Test cricket for India. This decision would prove crucial to India's historic series victory.
Historic Performance Amid Personal Grief
Siraj's commitment to the team yielded remarkable results. He played three Tests in the four-match series and emerged as India's leading wicket-taker with 13 scalps. His contributions were instrumental in India's historic 2-1 series victory against Australia, a remarkable achievement given the challenging circumstances.
What truly touched Dharmendra's heart, however, was Siraj's gesture upon returning to India. After landing at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, Siraj drove directly to the Khairatabad graveyard to pay his final respects to his father.
Dharmendra's Emotional Social Media Tribute
The veteran actor expressed his admiration for the young cricketer through a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter). Dharmendra wrote in Urdu: "Siraj, Braveheart son of India Love you …Naaz hai tujh par, dil par walid ki maut ka sdma liye tum watan ki Aan ke liye match khelte rahe ..aur ek unhoni jeet watan ke naam darj kar ke lote..Kal tujhe apne walid ki qabbr par dekh kar mun bhar aya . jannt naseeb ho unhein."
The English translation captured the depth of his emotions: "I am so proud of you. You carrying the pain of your father's death in your heart but played for the glory of the country and registered an unexpected victory before you came back. It made my heart heavy to see you at your father's grave yesterday. May he be welcomed into heaven."
This touching moment between two icons from different fields - cinema and cricket - remains a powerful testament to Siraj's professional commitment and Dharmendra's genuine appreciation for sporting heroes who put nation above personal grief.
