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'Will Leave The Game' - Mohammed Siraj Reveals Contemplating Quitting Cricket

Siraj has become a household name in India now (x.com)Siraj has become a household name in India now (x.com)

Mohammed Siraj revealed he considered quitting the game in the year 2019 before he made a resounding comeback to India's senior national side and became an integral part of the team across all formats. 

The young right-arm pacer made the revelation during a special interaction on BCCI.tv. The interview had taken place as he travelled back home to Hyderabad ahead of the first Test of the just-concluded five-match series against England but was shared on his birthday (March 13) by the Indian board. 

As he drove his luxury car and began the interview, Siraj recalled his humble beginning and struggles in life while also revealing he had pondered quitting the game altogether in 2019-20 if a comeback didn't materialise. 

The slingy Hyderabad quick made his international debut in November 2017 but got dropped from the white-ball set-up in early 2019. 


Siraj Reveals Contemplating Premature Retirement 

Frustrated with his axe from the side after struggling to give a befitting account of himself in the early opportunities with the Indian team, the 30-year-old pacer said, he wanted to give himself one more year and if things didn't go according to plan, he would've quit the game. 

"In 2019-20 I had thought I am giving myself this last year and after that I will leave the game for good," Siraj said, recalling the challenging times that thankfully ended when he was brought into Test match reckoning by the selectors on the back of a prolific run in red-ball cricket in the Ranji Trophy and for India A. 

Siraj made an impressive Test debut at MCG against Australia in December 2020 and bagged his maiden five-wicket haul in the epic series-decider played in Brisbane. He has since taken 74 wickets in 27 Tests at an average of 29.68. 

The wicket-taking pacer has also featured in 41 ODIs and 10 T20Is and has been a terrific bowler in the 50-over version, taking his 68 wickets at an average of just 22.79 while going for only 5.09 runs an over.