Mohammed Siraj had February planned down to the last detail. After captaining Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy, the Indian pacer was looking forward to a rare break—family time, preparations for Ramzan, and a long-anticipated trip to watch Real Madrid play at the Santiago Bernabeu on February 15. The T20 World Cup felt distant, almost irrelevant, as Siraj had not featured in India’s T20 plans for nearly 18 months.
“I never thought I would play in the World Cup,” Siraj admitted honestly at the pre-match press conference. Missing out on bilateral T20 series had made the message clear—this tournament wasn’t meant for him.
Then, in the span of a single day, everything changed.
Just 24 hours before India’s T20 World Cup opener against the USA, Siraj was at home in Hyderabad, resting after back-to-back four-day games. A message from India’s support staff member Adrian le Roux initially felt routine. Siraj brushed it aside, making it clear he was on rest mode. But fate had already stepped in.
During India’s warm-up match against South Africa, pacer Harshit Rana suffered a knee injury. The team needed an immediate replacement—someone experienced, reliable, and mentally ready. The selectors turned to Siraj, a trusted name and part of India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
What followed felt unreal.
His phone rang again—this time it was captain Suryakumar Yadav.“Get ready, pack your bag, and come,” Surya told him.
Siraj thought it was a joke. “Surya bhai, don’t joke,” he replied, unable to believe what he was hearing. But the follow-up call from team management confirmed it. Siraj was flying to Mumbai. The Bernabeu trip, family plans, and Ramzan preparations were instantly put on hold.
“My plan was to watch the Real Madrid match on the 15th,” Siraj revealed later. “But whatever God has written will happen.”
From watching football to preparing for a World Cup match at the Wankhede, Siraj had just 24 hours to mentally switch gears. Sitting on the flight to Mumbai, the experience felt dreamlike. Yet once reality set in, his approach was simple—trust what had brought him success.
“I bowled the same line and length I was bowling in the Ranji Trophy,” Siraj explained. “Stick to the new ball, bowl wicket to wicket, and try to get early breakthroughs.”
The simplicity paid off. Siraj claimed three crucial wickets against the USA, setting the tone for India’s defence. His spell proved vital after India had struggled with the bat, collapsing to 77 for 6 before Suryakumar Yadav’s unbeaten 84 lifted them to a fighting 161 for 9.
Siraj’s early strikes ensured India made the most of that total, sealing an important World Cup victory. Even the night before the match, in unfamiliar surroundings, his mindset remained steady—trust the same weapons that had always worked.
“No one can change what God has written,” Siraj reflected. “I came, played the match—everything was written.”
Real Madrid would have to wait. But this World Cup moment—arriving just a day before kickoff and delivering when it mattered most—will remain one of the most remarkable chapters of Mohammed Siraj’s career.
