Mohammed Siraj: 'This is the biggest day of my career'

Hyderabad pacer Siraj, who received a call-up for the Test series against West Indies, owes his success to India bowling coach Bharat Arun.

Published : Sep 29, 2018 23:40 IST , HYDERABAD

Mohd. Siraj is walking a dream, literally.
Mohd. Siraj is walking a dream, literally.
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Mohd. Siraj is walking a dream, literally.

Mohammed Siraj is walking a dream, literally.

“Yes, I just can’t explain my joy. This is the biggest day of my career - getting selected for the Test match team is a thing which I have been chasing for the last one year,” says the 24-year-old Hyderabad fast bowler on being picked for the Test series against West India on Saturday.

In a chat with Sportstar , Siraj, who has had a terrific run with the India squad, including two 10-plus wicket hauls against South Africa and Australia A teams recently, owes his success to India bowling coach Bharat Arun.

“I should not sound talking big, but I was just hoping that my consistent performances would fetch me an opportunity to play Test too for I have been doing well in all the four-day games too,” says the bowler, now playing for Hyderabad in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in Delhi.

READ: Indian top-order makes hay against West Indies

“Yes, every time I have something to sort out or to look for moral support, I speak to Arun Sir and he has been a huge source of encouragement always,” says Siraj of Arun, who was the Hyderabad coach when the pace bowler took 41 wickets in the last Ranji season.

“I don’t think there is any big change in my bowling or attitude. Yes, the desire has always been to give off my best for whichever team I am playing for and I am glad that all the hard work is really paying off now,” says Siraj, who already played for India in T20 internationals last year.

“My philosophy is pretty simple. Make optimum use of the chances that come by your way. Definitely, playing for India-A teams with Dravid Sir as the coach is a huge learning curve for me,” Siraj said.

“Well, there can be no better joy for any athlete than to play in front of home crowd and I hope that will happen if I were to be picked for the second Test against West Indies in Hyderabad (from October 12),” said an emotional Siraj.

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