In an interview with The Times of India, Siraj said, "It is a dream come true for me. I wanted to represent my country in Tests and knew I will be able to impress the selectors someday. I am so happy. I have done well for India A recently and had an idea about my selection in the Test team.”
New Delhi: India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj said he is “really excited” to make his Test debut in the two-match series against the West Indies.
On Saturday, Siraj was rewarded with a maiden India Test call-up. Picked following an impressive outing with India A in the recently-concluded quadrangular series featuring India B, Australia A and South Africa A, the 24-year-old claimed 10-wicket hauls against the two visiting teams.
In an interview with The Times of India, Siraj said, "It is a dream come true for me. I wanted to represent my country in Tests and knew I will be able to impress the selectors someday. I am so happy. I have done well for India A recently and had an idea about my selection in the Test team.”
Already having represented India in the shortest format of the game, Siraj also revealed how his captain Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped him during the T20I series.
"When I was selected for T20Is against New Zealand last year, in a chat with Kohli bhai, seeing me nervous he had said ‘Tension mat le, ground pe baat karenge. Bass ready reh kal khelne ke liye’ (Don’t worry, we will talk on the field. Just be ready for your debut match),” Siraj said.
“When I hit the field, he said... I have seen your game. Just go and bowl the way you have been. Don’t experiment. He took away the pressure. I was delighted after dismissing New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to claim my first international wicket," Siraj, who has played three T20Is so far (against three different nations – New Zealand, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh), added.
Siraj also acknowledged Dhoni’s inputs on the field. "Batsmen ke footwork ko dhyaan se dekh aur fir line aur length change kario (Watch the batsman's footwork closely and then change the line and length accordingly)," said Siraj, while recalling the conversation with Dhoni.
“I am really excited to wear the white Indian jersey. I have performed well for India A recently and want to carry forward that momentum against the West Indies,” he said.
Siraj, the son of an auto-rickshaw driver, raised many eyebrows when he was bought for a whopping Rs 2.6 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2017 auction while base price was only Rs. 20 lakh.
"My father is an auto-rickshaw driver. He has done everything he can to make me a cricketer. I always wanted to make him proud. I am sure, I have. I have seen tough times but got everything that I wanted. I am a proud son. I don’t let him drive the auto-rickshaw anymore” the Hyderabadi said.
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