"Mohammed Siraj was left alone in Australia after father's death, only 1 person could meet"- Bharat Arun sends shockwaves

Published - 31 Aug 2025, 10:58 AM | Updated - 31 Aug 2025, 11:34 PM

Virat Kohli Mohammed Siraj
Virat Kohli Mohammed Siraj. Image Credits: X

Former Team India bowling coach Bharat Arun shared that Mohammed Siraj lost his father during the tour of Australia. Arun revealed that Siraj was confined to his room during the tour due to strict bio-bubble protocols, and only the team manager was allowed to visit him after obtaining special permission.

Mohammed Siraj entered Test cricket during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia, where he was handed his debut in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. The pacer, who was brought on as the third-change bowler in the first innings, impressed with figures of 2 for 40 from 15 overs.

Siraj had lost his father in Hyderabad just before the series began. He did not go to India due to strict COVID-19 protocols and was unable to return home. The pacer stayed with the team in Australia ahead of his first Test series in international cricket.

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Shoulder to Cry On Would Have Meant a Lot to Mohammed Siraj - Bharat Arun

Bharat Arun said that it was extremely challenging for Mohammed Siraj, describing it as a “five-star jail.” Arun stated that having someone physically present to comfort him would have meant a great deal during that difficult period.

“It was the five-star jail. The manager was the only one to go. He got special permission, but none of us could visit him. It was really tough. We spoke a lot on the phone. We spoke on WhatsApp calls,” Arun stated.

“But that was it. There's nothing like human touch. Shoulder to cry on, at that point, would have meant a lot to Siraj, but there was no shoulder to cry on,” he added.

Mohammed Siraj Said, ‘I Will Stay Here' - Bharat Arun

Bharat Arun said that Mohammed Siraj decided to remain in Australia despite having the option to return to India to be with his family after his father’s passing. Arun added that Siraj was motivated by his dream of playing Test cricket for the country.

“He got on a video call, and I spoke to him, then we asked him, ‘Would you like to go back?’ Ravi told me that it is so far away, so what can be done now? Siraj then told me that it was his father's dream to watch him play Tests. He said, ‘I will stay here. ’ I thought that was outstanding,” said Arun.

Siraj made an impact in his debut Test series, helping India secure a memorable 2-1 victory against Australia. The pacer secured 13 wickets in six innings, including a five-wicket haul in the final Test at The Gabba in Brisbane.

Mohammed Siraj, India’s Leading Bowler in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Mohammed Siraj emerged as India’s leading bowler in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, taking 23 wickets in five Tests. He was the only Indian pacer to feature in every match of the series. Siraj produced match-winning performances, including two five-wicket hauls and one four-wicket haul.

The Hyderabad cricketer took 4-86 and 5-104 in the fifth and final Test at The Oval and was named the Player of the Match. Siraj has played 41 Test matches and picked up 123 wickets at an average of 31.05, with five five-wicket hauls and seven four-wicket hauls to his name.

Notably, Siraj was not included in India’s 15-member squad for the 2025 Asia Cup starting September 9. However, he is expected to return for the two-Test home series against the West Indies following the tournament.

Also read: Irfan Pathan eyes India Head Coach role, Gautam Gambhir’s job in jeopardy

Tagged:

Mohammed Siraj Bharat Arun India National Cricket Team Australia National Cricket Team Border-Gavaskar Trophy Australia vs India India vs Australia
Sai Vaitla

Sai Vaitla is an author at Cricketaddictor and he has been working since September 2022. Sai Vaitla... Read more

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