MS Dhoni's Pep Talk Has Helped Me Take My Game To Another Level: Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj has revealed how some encouraging words from MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli before his international debut in 2017 has played a key role in his maiden Test call.

The Test call has further extended Siraj’s fairytale journey in the game. Son of a rickshaw driver, Siraj has not looked back after he became Hyderabad’s highest wicket-taker while playing only his second season of Ranji Trophy. He picked up 41 wickets in nine matches which gave him the break. Few months later, Sunrisers Hyderabad bought him for a whopping Rs 2.6 crore.

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Months later, he was wearing an India shirt and bowling in a T20 international against New Zealand. His journey in international cricket so far has not been a promising one. In three T20Is, he has picked up 3 wickets at an average of over 49 and has conceded at an economy of over 12.

Well, Siraj will have a chance to make amends if he gets the opportunity to don the white jersey in the upcoming Test series against West Indies. Siraj earned the call after impressing for India A. He recently took 8 for 59 in an innings against Australia. It was his third five-wicket haul in his last four first-class innings. Since his average outing in the Indian Premier League, he took a staggering 37 wickets in just 8 innings for India A.

And ahead of his maiden Test assignment, Siraj has now revealed how Dhoni and Kohli helped him calm down his nerves on the big stage. The pacer said those words of wisdom helped him earn a place in the longest format of the game.

“When I was selected for T20Is against New Zealand last year, I had a chat with Kohli bhai. I was nervous,” he said “Tension mat le, ground pe baat karenge. Bass ready reh kal khelne ke liye” (Don’t worry, we will talk on the field. Just be ready for your debut match),”.

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“When I hit the field, he said… I have seen your game. Just go and bowl the way you have been. Don’t experiment. He took away the pressure. I was delighted after dismissing New Zealand captain Kane Williamson to claim my first international wicket,” Siraj recalled while speaking to TOI.

Siraj further revealed how Dhoni helped him to bowl on his debut after he was hit for some boundaries.

“Batsmen ke footwork ko dhyaan se dekh aur fir line aur length change kario (Watch the batsman’s footwork closely and then change the line and length accordingly),” Siraj said.

“His pep talk has helped me take my game to another level,” Siraj added.

In the absence of his seniors Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, Siraj is likely to get a chance in the playing eleven. The two-Test series start on October 4 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. The second Test will be played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad from October 12.