Mohammed Siraj has provided an intriguing history for why he purposefully avoided talking to—or even looking at—England legend Joe Root during India's series against England earlier this year.  

During the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, while talking about Siraj’s on-field aggression, Root had said at a press conference, “He’s a character. He’s a warrior, a real warrior. He’s someone you want on your team; he’s that kind of character. He gives everything for India; credit to him for that. The way he approaches cricket, he’s got this fake angriness about him sometimes, which I can see right through. You can tell he’s a really nice lad.”

Now, Mohammed Siraj stated that he would avoid talking to Root to maintain his aggression on the field during the Anderson Tendulkar Trophy's five Test matches. Siraj has also responded to Root's claim that he fakes anger during games.

“No, no, I do get angry, and it does not fade off quickly. Only after I get a wicket does my anger vanish. As for Joe Root, he is a world-class batsman. When he is facing me, he never looks at me with any kind of anger. He keeps smiling at me. So, whenever I see him, a smile automatically comes to my face. He is the first person who makes me calm and smile when I look at him.

So, during the England tour, I decided I was not going to look at him or talk to him. Even if he was at the non-striker’s end and I was fielding at mid-off, he would come to talk to me, but I would not talk to him. I would just walk away somewhere else,” Siraj told The Indian Express.

Siraj also revealed that he learned the art of maintaining on-field aggression from South African pace legend Dale Steyn.

“Off the field, I am very different… shaant (calm), relaxed, chilled banda. But on the field, when you are representing the country… when I am hit for even one four, I get very angry. How did this batsman hit me? So, I tend to fight. Aggression as a fast bowler, I learned from Dale Steyn, whom I used to follow. Aggression is very important. If a batsman hits you and you are relaxed and smile… What kind of cricket is that? Kuch toh chahiye (You need some aggression). But off the field, I am ek dum chill (really chill),” Siraj added.

Mohammed Siraj will be seen in action when India plays the second Test against the West Indies in Delhi from October 10.