Mohammed Siraj recently recalled how MS Dhoni’s timely advice had helped him to stay mentally strong and focused on his goals. This conversation dates back to a time when he made his debut for India.
“I remember when I joined the India team, MS Dhoni had told me, ‘Kisi ki baaton mein nahin aana. Jab tu acha karega, toh poori duniya tumhare saath rahegi, aur jab kharaab karega, yahi duniya tujhe gaali degi,’” said Mohammed Siraj, in an interview with The Indian Express.
Siraj observed that Dhoni’s words taught him not to depend on public opinion. “That’s when I decided, I don’t need outside praise. What my teammates and family think — that’s what matters.”
He also recalled how, during a poor IPL season with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, online trolls mocked him harshly. “When things didn’t go my way during the IPL, I was trolled very badly. One day, fans say, ‘there’s no bowler like Siraj’, and the next, if I don’t perform, they say ‘jaa ke apne baap ke saath auto chalao’. What’s the point of this?” he said.
Despite all the negative remarks, Siraj stayed focused and grounded. He has 130 wickets from 42 Test matches. In ODIs, he has grabbed 71 wickets in 44 matches. He has also played for three different franchises in the IPL where he has taken 109 wickets.
Siraj credited his success to hard work, faith and his parents’ blessings. “Upar wale ne saath diya, meri mehnat thi, maa-baap ki dua thi,” Siraj told.
For latest sports updates: Follow RevSportz