Mohammed Siraj has opened up about the difficult phase he endured before establishing himself as one of India’s leading fast bowlers. The pacer recalled a remarkable incident from his early career when he attended practice despite being hospitalised with dengue after earning selection for India’s U-23 team. Siraj revealed that he had missed two days of practice because of his illness and was receiving treatment through an intravenous drip. However, he was told that failing to report for practice could cost him his place in the squad.
Faced with the possibility of losing a major opportunity, the Hyderabad pacer decided to take the risk. “I was on an IV with zero energy. A day before, the doctor told me that we came at the right time, or I could have lost my life too,” Siraj recalled in a conversation with Sony Sports Network.
The situation forced Siraj to make a difficult decision. At around 5:30 am, he woke his father and explained what had happened. His father asked whether he was physically capable of attending practice, but Siraj remained determined to make the most of his selection.
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“I told him I would adjust, and my dad took me in his auto to practice. I went and bowled, batted, fielded, did everything. Later, when I went and gave the test, everything was normal,” he added.
The episode underlines the determination that has remained a defining feature of Siraj’s career. The fast bowler has developed a reputation for bowling long, demanding spells in Test cricket, and he believes that endurance was built during his early days playing tennis-ball cricket. Siraj revealed that he would regularly participate in several tennis-ball matches to earn money. The experience helped him develop the ability to bowl repeatedly without losing intensity.
🚨Mohammed Siraj in Heart-to-Heart with Harsha Bhogle🚨
Harsha Bhogle🗣️: “Siraj, coming all the way from Toli Chowki bowling in Bata slippers to winning Test matches for India at Melbourne and the Gabba… where did this endless fuel come from?”
Mohammed Siraj🗣️: “In childhood,… pic.twitter.com/oEkuY9agUN
— sportified (@sportified25) August 25, 2026
🚨 EMOTIONAL STATEMENT BY MOHAMMED SIRAJ ON HIS FINANCIAL STRUGGLES IN EARLY DAYS 🚨
Mohammed Siraj said 🗣️,
“We had a lot of financial problems because we were living on rent. Four of us were managing in just a single hall and a room. My dad used to drive an auto-rickshaw to… pic.twitter.com/DFTsXpmU2e
— Cricket Central (@CricketCentrl) August 24, 2026
“I love long spells, and it has become a habit for my body. We used to get ₹50 to play matches, and I used to keep on bowling for that. Even today, if I go and play some league match, I will have the same energy and the same intensity,” Siraj said. The India pacer also explained that he sometimes played four or five tennis-ball matches in a single day. According to Siraj, the quicker arm rotation required in tennis-ball cricket helped him build natural endurance and bowling strength. “I used to play 4-5 tennis ball matches a day. Your arm rotation becomes a lot quicker by playing tennis ball. Then you can keep playing continuously,” he said.
Siraj’s journey has been shaped not only by his love for cricket but also by his family’s expectations. He recalled how his mother encouraged him to focus on education and find a secure career, while he remained convinced that cricket was the path he wanted to pursue.
“My mother would be behind me, telling me to study and do something and become a big man. I used to say it’s okay, I’ll figure it out. And today I am here,” he recalled.
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Since making his international debut in 2017, Siraj has gone on to become an important part of India’s pace attack across formats. With Jasprit Bumrah absent, he is currently leading the Indian bowling attack in the ongoing two-Test series against Sri Lanka. His story, from playing tennis-ball cricket for modest sums to representing India at the highest level, reflects the resilience, hunger and relentless work ethic that have defined his rise.
