Mohammed Siraj is an Indian fast bowler. He plays for Gujarat Titans in the IPL and represents Hyderabad cricket team in domestic cricket. He plays as a right-arm fast bowler across formats. He was part of India’s squads that won the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups. In the Asia Cup 2023 final, he was named Player of the Match after a devastating spell against Sri Lanka.
He started his first-class career for Hyderabad in the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy under coach Karthik Udupa. A few months later, he made his T20 debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His breakthrough domestic season came in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy when he picked up 41 wickets and finished as Hyderabad’s highest wicket-taker.
Siraj continued rising quickly in domestic cricket. In the 2017–18 Vijay Hazare Trophy, he became the leading wicket-taker with 23 wickets in just seven matches. His performances earned him selections for India A and India B squads in the Deodhar Trophy over the next few years. Outside cricket, Siraj received another major honor in October 2024 when he was appointed an honorary Deputy Superintendent of Police in Hyderabad.
Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Mohammed Siraj
Played Without Shoes Until He Was 19
As a teenager, Siraj couldn’t afford proper cricket spikes. He played in worn-out slippers, a constant reminder of his family’s poverty. He would often wait for teammates to leave the stadium before he could start his decaying, broken-down bike in private. The struggle was real, but it fuelled the fire inside him.
Miraculously ‘Cured’ Himself of Dengue
Just before a crucial U-23 selection match, Siraj was hospitalised with dengue. Fearing he would lose his spot, he escaped the hospital with his father’s help and went straight to practice. He bowled, batted, and fielded as if nothing was wrong. When he returned for tests, the dengue was gone – a recovery he still calls a miracle.
A Self-Taught Fast Bowler
Siraj never attended a formal cricket academy because his family couldn’t afford it. He learned fast bowling by watching YouTube videos of his idol, Zaheer Khan, and practising on the narrow, dusty streets of Hyderabad. That unpolished, raw upbringing gave him a unique and deceptive bowling action that still confuses batters today.
Turned Away Because He Couldn’t Pay Fees
One of the biggest tragedies of his youth happened at a local club. Despite being identified as a rare talent, the club management told him to stop coming. His family couldn’t afford the ₹1,000 monthly fees. That moment of deep humiliation could have broken him. Instead, it made him more determined than ever to succeed.
His Father Died While He Played in Australia
During the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Siraj received devastating news – his father had passed away. Instead of flying home, he chose to stay with the team. He played the remainder of the series and finished as the highest wicket-taker in a historic Indian victory. He dedicated every single wicket to his father.
First Indian to Take 4 Wickets in an ODI Over
During the 2023 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, Siraj produced a spell for the ages. He ripped through the batting order, taking four wickets in a single over. He finished with staggering figures of 6/21, becoming the joint-fastest bowler to reach a five-wicket haul in ODI history, equalling the legendary Chaminda Vaas.
Avoids Joe Root to Stay ‘Angry’ on the Field
Siraj has a hilarious on-field quirk. He admitted that whenever he looks at Joe Root, who is always smiling, Siraj automatically starts smiling too. To maintain his aggressive, fiery demeanour, he actively avoids talking to or even looking at Root during Test matches. He literally walks away if Root approaches him.
Still Keeps His Broken ‘Decayed’ Bike
Despite now owning luxury cars like a Range Rover, Siraj famously keeps his old, broken-down Bajaj Platina motorcycle. It had no self-start and barely ran, but it was his only transport to the nets. He keeps it as a symbol of his struggle – a reminder of where he came from, to stay grounded.
Maintains a Spartan Diet – No Biryani
Surprisingly, the Hyderabadi pacer does not indulge in his city’s world-famous biryani very often. His brother revealed that Siraj follows a strict, disciplined diet, avoiding junk food, pizzas, and heavy curries. He is often the only pacer to bowl in every innings of a Test series, and his fitness is no accident.
Made His Debut with a Broken Bat Held by Tape
Even when he finally got a chance to play professional tennis-ball cricket, poverty created obstacles. During his first big tournament, his only bat was old and cracked. Unwilling to burden his auto-driver father, he played his debut match with a bat held together by tape. He ended up becoming the Man of the Match.
FAQs
Q. Which IPL team does Mohammed Siraj play for?
A. Mohammed Siraj plays for Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
Q. What type of bowler is Mohammed Siraj?
A. Mohammed Siraj is a right-arm fast bowler who plays across all formats for India.
Q. When did Mohammed Siraj make his first-class debut?
A. Mohammed Siraj started his first-class career for Hyderabad cricket team during the 2015–16 Ranji Trophy.
Q. What honor did Siraj receive in 2024?
A. In October 2024, Mohammed Siraj was appointed an honorary Deputy Superintendent of Police in Hyderabad.
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