Mohammed Siraj Reveals Shock Call That Changed His T20 World Cup Fate

Mohammed Siraj revealed how he thought his T20 World Cup recall was a joke before delivering a match-winning spell after Jasprit Bumrah missed the opener.

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has described his late return to India’s T20 World Cup squad as emotional after months of believing his chances had passed. Drafted in following Harshit Rana’s injury, Siraj admitted the sudden call left him surprised and unsure if it was real.

He delivered figures of 3/29 in the opener against the USA, justifying the team management’s decision. Siraj walked straight into the playing XI after Jasprit Bumrah missed the match due to illness.

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Siraj later revealed that the call-up came as a complete surprise. India captain Suryakumar Yadav first informed him about the possible inclusion, which Siraj initially thought was a joke. A subsequent call from the selectors confirmed the development. The fast bowler travelled without expecting to feature in the tournament, having stayed out of T20I plans for much of the past year.

“Two days Surya bhai said, ‘Miyaan bags pack kaar aur aaja‘ (Pack your bags and come (to Mumbai)). I told him, ‘Bhai mazaak maat karo kyon ki yeh to honewala hain nahi‘ (Brother please don’t joke as this won’t happen). But he said, ‘mai sach keh raha hoon, ready ho ja’ (I am telling you the truth, get ready),” Siraj said at the post-match presentation.

“Then (India selector Pragyan) Ojha bhai called me… Whatever the almighty has written, no one can change that,” he added.

Mohammed Siraj’s Madrid trip Cancelled

Siraj said he had already made personal plans for February, including watching a Real Madrid match on February 15, before the sudden turnaround. The sudden recall still felt like a dream, even during the flight to join the squad.

“There is a Real Madrid game on 15th and I was going to watch it and after that Ramzan, but whatever the almighty has written…”It was feeling like a dream when I was on the flight, because I had not thought about playing in the World Cup. The planning was going on for the last one year, those who were bound to play in this were getting the chances and since I had not played T20Is, I had understood that I won’t be a part of it,” he added.

“I watched video plans after coming at 3 pm. Without proper preparation, you cannot play in a big game. This is a World Cup. Since I’ve been regularly playing, I knew what to do. That was the thought last night also-bowl this line and length. When Ishan was playing, he said it’s a two-paced pitch, and we felt 170 was a good score. That proved to be right,” Mohammed Siraj concluded.