It has been nearly a month, yet fans still recall Mohammed Siraj’s brilliance in the Oval Test against England. The fast bowler took five wickets in the second innings, guiding India to a narrow six-run win. His performance helped India level the five-match series.

Over the past five years, Siraj has grown into a key figure in India’s Test bowling unit. But his journey began under difficult circumstances, making his rise even more remarkable.

Tragic loss before his Test debut

Siraj made his Test debut in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. However, just before the series began, he suffered a personal loss when his father passed away in Hyderabad. Due to the strict COVID-19 protocols and bio-bubble rules, Siraj could not return to India.

According to Bharat Arun, India’s then bowling coach, Siraj was left alone in his hotel room in Australia. No one from the team was allowed to meet him. “It was the five-star jail. The manager was the only one to go. He got special permission, but none of us could visit him. It was really tough. We spoke a lot on the phone. We spoke on WhatsApp calls,” Arun said.

He added, “But that was it. There’s nothing like human touch. Shoulder to cry on, at that point, would have meant a lot to Siraj, but there was no shoulder to cry on.”

Staying strong for his father’s dream

Despite his grief, Siraj chose to stay with the team. Arun revealed that he offered Siraj the option to fly home, but the pacer refused. “He got on a video call, and I spoke to him, then we asked him, ‘Would you like to go back?’ Ravi told me that it is so far away, so what can be done now? Siraj then told me that it was his father’s dream to watch him play Tests. He said, ‘I will stay here.’ I thought that was outstanding,” Arun recalled.

Siraj’s decision proved vital. He became one of the standout performers of that memorable series. The fast bowler claimed 13 wickets in six innings, including a five-wicket haul in the final Test at the Gabba, where India sealed a historic 2-1 series win.

Consistent performer for India

Since then, Siraj has carried his form into other major series. Most recently, he emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, finishing with 23 wickets. Importantly, he was the only Indian bowler to feature in all five Tests of the series.