ONE FINAL PUSH

Mom’s words kept me mentally strong: Siraj

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Rags to riches stories in Indian sport are nothing new. The one about Indian cricket’s latest find Mohammed Siraj has also been well-documented. But what makes the Hyderabad pacer’s tale truly endearing is the way he has battled through the trauma and hardships suffered in the last two months to come out triumphant.

Siraj lost his father, an autorickshaw driver who gave wings to his son’s cricketing dreams, soon after reaching Australia with the Indian team. Siraj, by no means a certainty in India’s playing XI then, was given the option of flying back home to be with his family, but he decided against it. With injuries plaguing the Indian squad, the 26-year-old was handed his maiden Test cap in Melbourne and played a part in his team’s victory, with four wickets in the match.

In the next in Sydney, he claimed two wickets but was subjected to racial abuse from the stands. He didn’t lose his cool but set a template of sorts in international cricket by reporting it to the match officials immediately.

By the time the decider in Brisbane arrived, Siraj had moved on from being a fringe bowler to India’s pacer spearhead. He lived up every bit to the challenge. In the first innings, he had only the wicket of David Warner to show for, whom he dismissed with a peach of a delivery.