Mohammed Siraj Will Have His Dream Come True Moment As An International Debut Beckons In The T20I Series Vs New Zealand

Mohammed Siraj was warming up to bowl in the nets on the eve of Hyderabad's Ranji Trophy contest against Karnataka when the opposition players informed him about his maiden national team call up for the T20 series against New Zealand next month. Siraj gave away little in terms of emotions as he went through the paces.

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There were no over-the-top-celebration because the 23-year-old was 'expecting' a berth in the team. The joy of making into the national squad was palpable as the soft-spoken bowler got down to talking about his journey which came into focus when he was picked for a whopping Rs. 2.6 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL auction earlier this year. Before the IPL bonanza, the youngster had picked up 41wickets in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season, playing a pivotal role as they entered the knockouts.

"I'm very excited about the call-up because it is a dream come true. I knew I had it in me to make it to the Indian team, especially after my performance in the previous Ranji Trophy season and the IPL, where I sat out of the first few matches and then earned the match of the match against Gujarat Lions for my match-winning performance (4/32). Also, playing for India A, I did well against South Africa (away tour) and New Zealand as well."

PTI

During his stint with the India A team, coached by former India skipper Rahul Dravid, Siraj was advised by Dravid to stick to his natural game. "Dravid sir told me to continue the process due to which I've tasted success. He asked me not to change anything in my bowling. So in recent times I have focussed more on improving my success."

Another coach the pacer gave credit for his success was his former Hyderabad and current Indian team (bowling) coach Bharat Arun. "I would like to thank Bharat (Arun) sir who believed in me and motivated me to do well in the Ranji Trophy. My IPL experience was also crucial and I got to learn a lot from Bhuvi Bhai (Bhuvaneshwar Kumar) and Ashish bhai (Ashish Nehra)," added Siraj.

BCCL

While he has been picked in the T20 squad, Siraj is hoping to represent the country in all three formats. "I don't have a preferred format. I like playing in all formats and as long as I get to represent India, the format does not matter," he pointed out.

With the IPL transforming his life, Siraj believes the riches earned from the League has helped him overcome financial hurdles and concentrate on the game better. "Life completely changed after the IPL auction. The atmosphere in my house has got a complete makeover. We lived in rented houses earlier, now we own a house," concluded Siraj.