Mohammed Siraj on Monday (November 23) revealed that Virat Kohli told him to “be strong” after he lost his father last week and it is the captain’s word that has helped him stay focussed ahead of India’s gruelling series against Australia, starting November 27.
Siraj's father, Mohammed Ghouse, passed away at the age of 53 on Friday (November 20). Even though BCCI offered him the option to return home, the fast bowler decided to stay back in Australia.
“Virat bhai said ‘Miyaan tension maat le [don’t be tense] and be strong. Your dad wanted you to play for India. So, do that and don’t stress,” Siraj told ‘bcci.tv’ after a training session in Sydney.
“The skipper told me, ‘If you can be strong in this situation, it will only help you’. So those were positive words from the captain and it felt nice.”
In fact, Kohli had gone through the same phase in 2007 when he lost his father in the middle of a Ranji Trophy match but he carried on with professional duties and scored 97 for Delhi the very next day.
Siraj’s father drove auto-rickshaw during his early years as a cricketer. No wonder, the speedster called him the biggest support system of his life.
“It’s a huge loss for me as he was the biggest support system of my life. He wanted me to shine for my country and my mindset now is to fulfil his dreams,” he remarked.
Siraj said even his mother advised him not to return from Australia.
“My mother said that ‘everyone has to go one day. Today, it’s your dad, tomorrow it will be me. Just do what your dad wished for you. Play well for India’. Maybe he is not physically present but I can feel that he is always there with me,” he concluded.
(With PTI inputs)
