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“All Because Of Virat Kohli…”: Siraj's Brother Opens Up On Pacer’s Hunger And Fitness

Poulomi Chakraborty

Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj In Tests (Source: AFP Photos)Virat Kohli and Mohammed Siraj In Tests (Source: AFP Photos)

In the five-match Test series against England, the Indian players brought out their A game, but nobody could outshine the unmatchable consistency of Mohammed Siraj.  From playing all the games with brilliance to play a key role in securing India’s victory in the Oval Test, the Indian pacer got it all covered.

Passion, talent, grit, and hard work, Siraj has ticked all the boxes. But Siraj’s brother Ismail, credited the former India skipper who instilled the Indian pacer’s undying spirit.

Ismail Reveals The Force Behind Siraj’s Performance

In recent times, after Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj is the most dependable pacer of the Indian side as he has proved his worth in need. In the recently ended Test series, Mohammed Siraj redefined the definition of the word ‘Consistency’. In all five Tests, Siraj brought his ‘Miyan Magic’ on the field and stunned the cricket world with his Oval heroics. The outstanding five-wicket haul, with the crucial wicket of Gus Atkinson, secured Team India’s victory.

As the entire world is busy praising the pacer, his brother, Mohammed Ismail, revealed the inspiration behind Siraj’s hunger. Speaking to The Times of India, Ismail revealed that Siraj draws his fire from Virat Kohli’s hunger and aggression.

“Abbu ke liye khelna hai, unka sapna jiyunga main (I want to play for father and live his dream). That’s what Siraj always says. Fitness is on another level for him now. And it is all because of Virat Kohli. He takes a lot of inspiration from Virat. He is more than his elder brother. The aggression and hunger he has taken from Virat,” he said.

Virat’s Backing Of Siraj Proves Justified

Players often make their mark on their arrival, but Siraj proved to be a late bloomer. After having a horrific IPL in 2018, the entire world questioned Siraj’s future. But Virat Kohli stood firm behind the pacer, and Siraj proved him right with his brilliance. In the recent chat, Ismail praised Kohli’s unwavering support, crediting the former India captain for shaping Siraj’s remarkable rise.

“In 2018, Siraj had a terrible IPL season. A lot of questions were raised, but at that time, Virat bhaiya stood by him and supported him. He knew what qualities Siraj had. He backed Siraj and gave him a lot of chances at both RCB and in the Indian team. All the credit goes to Virat bhaiya. There have been times when Siraj has confessed that he owes his career to Virat bhai. He was fond of biryani and now he eats it and that too, rarely, after getting some pep talk from Virat bhaiya,” he added.

In the recently ended Test, Siraj raised the bar high as he ended up being the highest wicket-taker of the series, securing 23 wickets in five Tests. Even without Bumrah in the final Test, Siraj rose to the occasion as his crucial dismissal of Atkinson sealed a nail-biting 6-run win for India and brought the thrilling series to a dramatic draw.