India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has come a long way after his international debut in 2017. He has established himself in the Test side after match-winning performances on the tours of Australia and England.

In 12 Tests so far, the 27-year-old Siraj has claimed 36 wickets at an average of 29.64, including a five-wicket haul.

The right-arm pacer is also a part of India's ODI and T20I squads for the upcoming series against West Indies, which begins on February 6.

Amid the success, it is worth noting here that Siraj had struggled to make a mark in the first few years and drew criticism for his performances.

It was during the tough phase that the former India skipper MS Dhoni’s advice helped him to overcome comments from the trolls.

“When I bowled two beamers against KKR in 2018 (2019), I received a lot of criticism. People even told me to leave cricket and ‘go drive auto with your father’. There were so many comments," Siraj said on the RCB Podcast.

“When I was first selected for India, Mahi bhai told me one thing; 'Don't listen to anyone. You will play good today, and everyone will praise you. Tomorrow, when you perform badly, the same people will bring you down. Never take an opinion'. I remember people trolled me so much back then. The same people call me the ‘best bowler’ now. I don't need to listen to that. I was the same Siraj then and I am the same Siraj now.”

Siraj acknowledged that the IPL made his life “better.”

“When I was selected in the IPL, my life got better. My father stopped driving the auto, we bought a new home. I didn't need anything else in life. I only strived to work harder then,” he remarked.