Mohammed Siraj has risen through the ranks to become a vital part of the Indian pace attack in Test cricket. It was his aggressive spell that helped Team India win the second Test against England at Lord’s. The pacer picked up eight wickets in the match and registered best bowling figures for an Indian at Lord’s.
Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan said that the hunger to learn and desire to succeed has been a key factor for the right-arm fast bowler. He added that Bharat Arun, India’s bowling coach, should also be given credit to Siraj’s success.
“Siraj’s success also has a lot to do with Arun. When he was the coach for Hyderabad for a year or so, he identified Siraj. And to Siraj’s credit, he had the hunger and desire to learn. Arun imparted a lot of knowledge,” Laxman Sivaramakrishnan told Hindustan Times.
Arun has worked with Siraj ever since the pacer entered Hyderabad team as a raw talent in 2016. He was Hyderabad's bowling coach then and has given invaluable advice to the 27-year old.
“Siraj has just followed him. Some people might doubt it. Be skeptical whether it is the right thing to do or not but Siraj took Arun as his guru and went about doing exactly what he wanted him to do. Arun must have then passed it on to Shastri,” Sivaramakrishnan explained.
Siraj has played seven Tests and has picked 27 wickets so far.
(With HT inputs)
