Mohammed Siraj was the heartbeat of India’s thrilling six-run win over England in the fifth Test at The Oval, and England head coach Brendon McCullum had nothing but praise for the fiery pacer’s determination and match-winning effort.“When Siraj took that final wicket, as much as we were incredibly disappointed, [I had] admiration for him and the fight he has got as a cricketer and the way he was able to do what he did,” said McCullum on Sky Sports.
The 31-year-old quick from Hyderabad bagged nine wickets in the match, including a fiery 5/104 in the final innings, and ended the series as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!But Siraj’s journey to becoming India’s red-ball spearhead wasn’t easy, and it began with sacrifices that went far beyond the cricket field. Back in 2019, the then 25-year-old revealed that he had even given up his favourite food, biryani, in pursuit of fitness and discipline.“I have stopped eating biryani. It has become a cheat meal for me now… To be honest, if you want to represent your country, you have to quit a few things,” Siraj told TOI after a Hyderabad nets session.Inspired by Virat Kohli’s fitness ethic and Mohammed Shami’s comeback, Siraj changed everything, from diet to mindset.“We all know about the fitness regime of Virat bhai, but the way Shami bhai has made a comeback, it is remarkable. He has become so lean and quick,” he said.Determined to break into India’s elite bowling group, Siraj stayed focused on consistency. “If I want to break into this present side, I have to be more consistent… My only aim is to work harder and win more games for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy,” the bowler had said back then.From giving up biryani to out-bowling England’s finest at The Oval, Siraj’s story is one of raw hunger, sacrifice, and grit. As McCullum summed it up perfectly: it’s the fight that defines him.
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