Srinagar: India pacer Mohammad Siraj has opened up on what he has to endure during Australia tour when his father passed away in India.
Siraj lost his father Mohammed Ghaus after a brief illness in November, 2020 when he was in Australia. The India pacer couldn’t attend his funeral due to quarantine restrictions which were in place due to the global pandemic.
“In Australia, nobody could visit other players’ rooms as we spoke on video calls,” Siraj, who plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, told RCB Season 2 Podcast.
“But Sridhar sir (former India fielding coach R Sridhar) used to call often asking how are you, what have you eaten etc. It was a good feeling and my fiance was also talking to me (over phone) at that time”.
“I never cried on the phone but there were occasions when I would cry in the room and then will talk to her later.” Siraj, who turned 29 on Monday, also recollected how then head coach Ravi Shastri supported and encouraged him.
“I went to training the next day after my father’s demise and Ravi Shastri told me that I have my dad’s blessing and I will take a five-wicket haul. When I took five wickets at Brisbane, he told me: ‘Look, what did I tell you that you will take five wickets’.
“It was a lot of fun when my dad was around because he wanted to see his son’s success. He took a lot of pride and joy in seeing me putting all the hard work”.
“I always wanted to perform in front of my dad, and the dream did come true but how I wish I could do it more.” Siraj, who was India’s highest wicket-taker with 13 scalps during the historic 2-1 series win, also recalled how the team battled through multiple injuries to key players to script a historic win in the fourth Test at Brisbane.