India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj made his Test debut against Australia at MCG in December 2020, just days after receiving the news of his father's demise.

Despite the personal setback, Siraj starred with the ball in India’s 2-1 Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph Down Under, finishing the series with 13 scalps including a five-wicket haul in the decider at Gabba.

Since then, Siraj hasn’t looked back and has established himself as one of India’s leading pacers across formats. He is currently plying his trade in the IPL 2023 for RCB, claiming 16 scalps from 12 games.

Apart from his bowling, Siraj has grabbed the headlines for his aggression and on-field spats with opposition players.

However, in a candid chat with Gaurav Kapoor in his show “Breakfast With Champions”, the pacer opened up about an incident involving KL Rahul when he was at the receiving end.

"I had performed with the Under-23 team. I had played one match in the Ranji Trophy. I had taken a wicket but then I was dropped for the next two matches and I was out of the team.

“Next year it was RCB vs Sunrisers (Hyderabad) and I was a net bowler then. I bowled bouncer after bouncer to KL Rahul, and he got angry. He told me ‘khali bouncer hi aata hain tujhe’ (do you only know how to bowl bouncers). I said ‘Bhaiya I know other stuff too.

“Then Bharat Sir become quite impressed. So he went and asked (VVS) Laxman sir, ‘who is this boy?’” said Siraj while discussing his introduction to Hyderabad's Ranji Trophy squad.

He added: “Next year Arun sir became the coach of Hyderabad for the Ranji Trophy. The selectors were not selecting me for the Ranji Trophy. So Arun sir said, ‘I want this boy in the team. If you listen then only I will join the association, otherwise not.’

“So Arun sir came and picked me and I was the highest wicket-taker that year.”

In 12 Tests so far, Mohammed Siraj has claimed 47 wickets at an average of 31.29. The right-arm quick has picked up 43 wickets in 24 ODIs at an average of 20.72 while he has taken 11 scalps from 8 T20Is.