Mohammed Siraj reigns supreme in Asia Cup 2023 final; know all about speedster's humble beginnings
Mohammed Siraj reigns supreme: Indian speedster Mohammed Siraj became the first Indian bowler to take four wickets in one over of men's ODI when he got four wickets in five deliveries against Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asia Cup final at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
This devastating spell reduced Sri Lanka to 12 for five in just four overs. The dramatic turn of events reached a climax when Siraj came up against Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka. Siraj delivered full and wide to set up his prey, then pushed the ball fuller at the middle stump, adding late movement to further confound the batsman.
Shanaka, tricked by the delivery, found his stumps in disarray, highlighting Siraj's skill and craftiness. Siraj's outstanding performance did not end there.
He went on to dismiss Kusal Mendis for his sixth wicket.
Also Read | IND vs SL, Asia Cup Final 2023: India wins Asia Cup for 8th time; beats Sri Lanka by 10 Wickets
He became the first Indian bowler to capture four wickets in an over and tied Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas for the fastest fifer in ODI history, achieving it in just 16 balls.
In addition, Siraj became the fourth fastest Indian to 50 ODI wickets, accomplishing the feat in his 29th ODI appearance.
Siraj has now joined a select group that includes Stuart Binny, who took six wickets for four runs against Bangladesh in 2014.
Mohammed Siraj told us about his incredible journey, from the early stages of his career to the point where he thought about giving up the sport.
His humble beginnings stand out, as he highlighted his family's great desire for him to become an engineer, his resourceful use of an old motorcycle to commute to matches, and his reliance on pocket money. His determination and perseverance, combined with his limited financial resources make his story truly inspiring.
"I played leagues in Hyderabad and earned Rs. 500 as my first salary." My mum began to believe in what I was capable of at that point," Siraj has said while reflecting on his early years.
"My father used to drive an auto-rickshaw," he continued. "My brother used to get Rs. 100 as pocket money and gave me Rs. 70 every day, of which Rs. 40 went towards fuel for the bike."
Siraj went on to say that his bike needed a push to start and that "when I used to go for practice, people there used to come in luxurious cars."
"We used to play with a tennis ball in villages," Siraj said.
"I used to play in my slippers till I was 19 years old. I didn’t have shoes. You need money to buy shoes, right?" "I was then asked to participate in a tournament in which I was given spikes, which I wore for the first time!"
Siraj's career took a crucial turn when his outstanding performances in tennis-ball cricket led to his quick inclusion in the Hyderabad team.
However, an unexpected stumbling block emerged when he was diagnosed with dengue fever during a key U23 game.
"My name was included in the U23 squad, but I had to be hospitalized due to Dengue," Siraj said of this difficult time in his life.
"My coach advised me that if I did not attend practice, I would be dropped from the team... So, with the support of my father, I was able to leave the hospital and get to the practice site." Siraj's performance surpassed all expectations, as he excelled in batting, bowling, and fielding while showing no signs of dengue.
Also Read | IND vs SL, Asia Cup 2023 Final: Mohammed Siraj becomes first Indian to bag four wickets in one over
- With inputs from agencies
