Mohammed Siraj, the son of Mohammed Ghaus, an autorickshaw driver, and Shabana Begum, a housewife, was born in those turbulent streets in 1994 amid all the mayhem. A neighborhood called Toli chowki, which is only 7.7 kilometers from Hyderabad Deccan Railway Station, is surrounded by ancient mosques, has streets lined with eateries that are lovingly prepared, children playing cricket in every nook and cranny, and the song “Main Agar Kahoon” by Shahrukh Khan from the film Om Shanti Om blasting at full volume in every tape recorder in the area.
People in the neighborhood are working two jobs a day to attempt to feed their families, and time is moving at the speed of light. On the other hand, there are children who dream of representing India someday, scoring one or two centuries, or perhaps even catching a fifer at the approximately 14 km away Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, where 40,000 or more fans are singing their names at the top of their lungs.
Mohammed Siraj, which means candle in Urdu, had no idea that he would go on to become a candle that would light up the nation’s untold number of aspirations.
After 15 years, cricket for a young Mohammed Siraj became a way to escape the harsh realities of life. The 16-year-old fell in love with tossing a tiny yellow circular item over 22 yards while bowling with his slippers on. He wasn’t there for the money it may bring in or the renown that cricket might bring; rather, he was there to amuse himself by sprinting about the streets and attempting to bowl quickly.
When Siraj was 16 years old, he played a one-day match for his uncle’s social club and recorded nine wickets in one innings. This was his first major turning point. He made 500 rupees that evening, which was probably comparable to the 2.6 crore he ultimately won at the 2017 IPL auction. Well, when you ride an old Platina to practice for INR 70 and fill up on gas, 500 cans may as well feel like 2.6 crores.
The society game gave him his first glimpse of his wealth, but he was unaware that it would help him earn a living beyond his wildest dreams.
Over the years, skill developed into potential, which then led to opportunity, which then matured into hardship, and the struggle within him to defy all odds finally handed him a moment that would change his life. In the Hyderabad zonal games, Siraj began to attempt to bowl quickly, as he had done his entire teenage life. Boy, bowling quickly opened up a Ranji Trophy selection door.
The overwhelming experience of being quickly transitioned into professional cricket did not have the conversion rate required to properly blossom into a performance when he made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2015–16.
Siraj had only been playing professional cricket for a year at the time, but over the following 12 months, he changed.
He strengthened his abilities, changed himself, and improved his way of thinking. The following season, under the guidance of then-Hyderabad coach Bharat Arun, Siraj had a breakout year unlike any other, picking up 41 wickets and completely demolish Mumbai with a nine-fer.
This time, though, it was performance rather than speed that led to opportunities for his cricketing career to advance. After establishing a reputation for having a wealth of potential, he was acquired by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for lakh, which quickly increased to a crore and then to 2.6.
Siraj’s life had changed dramatically, yet he stayed firmly grounded and determined to move beyond his predestined path.
There are numerous aspects of Siraj that stand out. His drive for success, his use of the crease, his seam movement, his wrist, and the swing he makes off the new ball are all notable. But his attitude and mentality are what stand out the most.
Siraj participated in 15 games of the IPL 2021 season, bowling at an economy of sub 6.8, while continuously reflecting on his father, who had assisted him in making significant progress.
Siraj went to Australia in 2021 with 39 IPL wickets, IPL contracts with RCB, and exposure to social media’s negative aspects. A promise made is a promise honored, thus Siraj’s moment in the spotlight—his Test debut for India—came, but he did not have his father there to witness it because he did not live long enough to watch his child fulfill his goal.
At the Gabba in Brisbane, Mohammed Siraj finished the series with 13 wickets in three games at an average of 29.53. After missing his father’s burial because it would prevent him from continuing to do what his father loved and lived for, playing Test cricket for India, he sobbed throughout the national song.
After two years, Siraj is one of the Indian captain’s go-to strikers when the team is in trouble. The Hyderabad-born speedster recreated his magic, this time at the Asia Cup finals in Colombo, when he defeated the hosts with a miraculous six-fer.
Predicting what the right-arm quick’s future holds would be premature at this point. For others watching, it has had a small impact on them, and for Siraj, life has changed significantly since his beginnings in Toli chowki.
Mohammed Siraj stands apart in a world where professional players can be arrogant. In a society where modesty is overrated, Siraj beams from a distant place.
He has never been arrogant and never was. By awarding the groundskeepers in Colombo and Kandy the USD 5,000 prize money for being named the Player of the Asia Cup Final, he disproved the notion that modesty is hypocrisy where genius exists and proudly wore the crown of humility.
Watch Mohammed Siraj donate his prize money to Colombo and Kandy groundsmen
#Siraj, a true sportsman and India’s pride, donated his cash prize to the groundsmen – a gesture that embodies the spirit of unity. Meanwhile look at the other self styled filmmaker who made a fortune at the plight of Kashmiri Pandits! pic.twitter.com/1HuNvYokIO
— Salman Nizami (@SalmanNizami_) September 17, 2023
India
