Each And Every Net Session, He Worked Really Hard: Ajinkya Rahane Hails Mohammed Siraj

India Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane has heaped praise on fast-bowler Mohammed Siraj for his performance in the recently-concluded Test series against Australia. The tour started on a terrible note for the pacer as his father passed away in November. Mohammed Siraj was preparing for the Test series at that time.

The BCCI gave him an offer to return home but he chose not to head home and stayed back with the team in Australia to fulfill his father’s dream. The hard work and commitment finally paid off in December when he made his Test debut at the iconic MCG and picked up five wickets in the game, helping India thrash the hosts by eight wickets.

In the third Test, he picked up two wickets as India drew the game. By the time the fourth Test started, he had become the leader of the attack because of injuries to the likes of Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami. And Siraj played the role of the leader with aplomb. He picked up his maiden five-wicket haul in the game as India beat Australia by three wickets to seal the series.

Speaking about his performance in Australia, Ajinkya Rahane said the pacer worked really hard in every net session and credited him for his brilliant performance with the ball. Ajinkya Rahane pointed out how Siraj fought through the personal loss of his father and racial abuses in his first Test series to finish as India’s leading wicket-taker.

“I was really happy for them. Siraj especially. What he went through during the series. Start of the series lost his father but he was mentally tough. He wanted to be there with the team,” Ajinkya Rahane was quoted as saying by India Today.

“He worked really hard for that. Each and every net session, he worked really hard. I thought the way he bowled was very good. Credit to him, the way he managed himself, the way he bowled, the way he conducted himself. All credit to him,” he added.

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