From Family Time to National Duty: Siraj's Whirlwind 24 Hours
Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj had his February meticulously planned. With no cricket scheduled, the Hyderabad pacer intended to spend the holy month of Ramadan with family, beginning with watching a Real Madrid match on February 15th. These peaceful domestic plans were abruptly shattered when his phone rang with an unexpected caller.
The Fateful Call That Changed Everything
"Surya bhai called me," an emotional Siraj recounted to reporters after India's T20 World Cup victory over the United States at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium. "He said, 'Miya bag pack kar le and come.' I responded, 'Surya bhai, mazaak mat karo'—thinking this couldn't possibly be happening."
The India T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, wasn't joking. Moments after their conversation ended, Siraj received confirmation from selector Pragyan Ojha. "Suddenly, I got shocking news. No one can change what God has written," Siraj reflected, his eyes glistening with emotion. "I came and played the match... everything was written."
The Unlikely Path to World Cup Selection
For the past year, Siraj had accepted that his T20 International opportunities had diminished. The team management had been grooming Harshit Rana for the right-arm quick role in the T20 World Cup squad, with Siraj continuing as the workhorse in Test and ODI formats. The selectors only turned to the experienced campaigner after Rana suffered an ill-timed injury, creating an urgent vacancy just days before the tournament opener.
"It was hard," Siraj admitted. "When I was sitting on the flight to Mumbai on February 6th, it felt like a dream because I never thought I would play in this World Cup. For the past year, the planning was that all World Cup players would get chances in T20s. When I didn't play in T20s, I understood I wouldn't be part of it this year."
A Seamless Transition From Domestic to World Stage
The timing couldn't have been more dramatic. Just one week earlier, Siraj was captaining Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy. Within days, he was sharing the new ball with Arshdeep Singh in a T20 World Cup match. Jasprit Bumrah's illness further cleared his path to the playing eleven against the United States.
Siraj delivered a masterclass in fast bowling under pressure, claiming three crucial wickets for just 29 runs. He struck twice in his opening spell and added another in the final over, demonstrating the same penetrating lines that have made him a Test match stalwart.
Experience and Emotion: The Siraj Formula
As the Wankhede crowd chanted "Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Siraj"—egged on by Hardik Pandya at mid-on—the 31-year-old transformed his dream into reality. "Earlier I didn't know I would play. I was just happy to be back in the team," he confessed. "But when I got the message that I was playing, I became more excited. I arrived yesterday and played the match today, so I was very excited."
His preparation was typically meticulous, despite the compressed timeline. "While I was playing the Ranji Trophy as captain, I was thinking about my role and the team's needs. Even today, I was thinking about my bowling—how to put pressure on the opposition, where to attack, whether to bowl defensively or aggressively. All that was in my mind, and whatever I planned, it got executed."
The Mental Fortitude of a Seasoned Campaigner
Siraj credits his decade of international experience for enabling his seamless transition. "When you're playing in the World Cup, you have to be mentally ready," he explained. "I've been playing for India for almost 10 years now, so when you get a chance, you know how to prepare yourself. If a youngster gets the chance, he has to think about many things. But since I've been around the team, I know how to get ready in this format."
Even his sleeping thoughts were focused on cricket. "When I slept last night, I just thought I would stick to the same weapon that has given me success so far. And I got the same success today as well."
Inspiration From an Unlikely Source
The Cristiano Ronaldo wallpaper on Siraj's phone—applied during the India-England Test at The Oval—continues to provide daily motivation. "Believe," with the footballer's image, stares back at him each time he checks his device. Ironically, Ronaldo's former club Real Madrid will have to wait longer to see Siraj in their stands, as the bowler is now fully committed to India's T20 World Cup campaign.
From contemplating Ramadan festivities to delivering match-winning spells at Wankhede, Mohammed Siraj's journey exemplifies sporting destiny. His emotional comeback story adds another compelling chapter to India's T20 World Cup narrative, proving that sometimes, the best plans are those rewritten by fate.
