Birthday boy Siraj opens up about considering quitting cricket in 2019

On his 30th birthday, Mohammed Siraj shared a heartfelt revelation, confessing that he almost quit cricket a few years back. Reflecting on his journey, Siraj disclosed that back in 2019-20, he had given himself a year to make it in the sport, or else he was prepared to step away.

In a touching video released by the BCCI, Siraj took fans on a tour of his hometown, Hyderabad, reminiscing about the ground where his cricket dreams began and his cherished hangout spots. He mentioned finding solace at Eidgah ground despite his current global travels.

Contemplating quitting cricket to international success

Hailing from a modest background, Siraj disclosed his past struggles, including working in catering to support his father, who drove an autorickshaw, the family’s primary source of income. He vividly recalled burning his hands while flipping roomali roti.

“I used to go to do a catering job. My family members used to say that son, please study. I liked playing cricket very much because we used to live on rent also. My dad was the only earning member in the house. If I got a hundred or two hundred rupees, I was happy with it. I used to give 100 or 150 rupees at home and keep 50 for myself.”

He also added, “Whenever you work hard, your hard work will not go to waste. You will get it in the end, if not today or tomorrow, then day after tomorrow or in a year or in two years or in three years, you will get the result.” 

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RCB take a huge step in auction

Mohammed Siraj's Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/TSCqSCbshv

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) December 21, 2023

Having recently played for India in the T20I series against South Africa, Siraj gears up for the upcoming Test series, starting with the first game in Centurion on Boxing Day, December 26. This series also marks the return of senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah.

In other news, Siraj was retained by RCB ahead of the player auction held in Dubai. RCB strengthened their squad by acquiring players like Alzarri Joseph, Tom Curran, Lockie Ferguson, and three promising Indian talents. However, they missed out on securing Australia captain Pat Cummins, who was bought by SRH for Rs 20.5 crore.