India’s Mohammed Siraj called his last-minute T20 World Cup call-up a dream after a match-winning performance against the USA
MOHAMMED Siraj described a whirlwind 24 hours as “a dream” after a late call-up to India’s T20 World Cup squad led to a match-winning performance. The fast bowler took 3-29 in India’s 29-run victory over the United States at the Wankhede Stadium.
Siraj was only added to the squad as a replacement for the injured Harshit Rana. He was then parachuted straight into the team after Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out with a fever.
“First of all, in the last 24 hours, when I was sitting on the flight, it felt like a dream,” Siraj told reporters. “God changed my destiny. I was spending time with my family … suddenly, Surya bhai (captain Suryakumar Yadav) called me.”
The 31-year-old had not played a T20 international since July 2024. He had planned to travel to Spain to watch his favourite football team, Real Madrid, after being initially omitted from the World Cup squad.
“My plan was that on the 15th (of February), there was a Real Madrid match, and I was going to watch it,” said Siraj. “After that, Ramzan was coming, so I had planned around that. But whatever God has written will happen.”
A self-confessed Cristiano Ronaldo fan, Siraj often celebrates wickets with the footballer’s famous “Siu” celebration. India’s co-hosts next play Namibia in New Delhi on Thursday.