New Delhi: Team India pacer Mohammed Siraj recently revealed how former captain MS Dhoni’s advice helped him fight critics and trolls in the initial days of his international career. Siraj recalled how he faced intense trolling over his performances when he first joined the Indian team. However, Dhoni’s advice helped him stay grounded even in the highs and the lows.
Siraj made his India debut in November, 2017 in a T20I against New Zealand and played his first ODI against Australia in January 2019. The right-arm pacer recalled how he was trolled heavily while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2018. However, he remembered advice from Dhoni, who told him not to pay heed to opinions from others.
“I remember when I joined the India team, MS Dhoni had told me, ‘Kisi ki baaton mein nahin aana. Jab tu acha karega, toh poori duniya tumhare saath rahegi, aur jab kharaab karega, yahi duniya tujhe gaali degi.’ (Don’t pay attention to what others say. When you are performing well, the entire world will be with you, and when you aren’t, they will abuse you),” Siraj told the Indian Express.
The 31-year-old, who has become a vital cog in India’s pace attack across formats, revealed he was also trolled over his late father’s occupation. However, the Indian pacer decided to only listen to the people who mattered in his life and focus on improving his game to become one of the best fast bowlers in the world.
“Yes, the trolling was bad. When you perform, the fans and the world will be with you and say ‘there is no bowler like Siraj’. In the next game, if you don’t perform, they will say, ‘Arre, what sort of bowler is this. Jaake apne baap ke saath auto chalao’ (go and ride the auto with your father) — what’s the point of this? You are hero in one match and zero in another (smiles). People change that quickly? I decided that I don’t need outside opinion and validation. What my teammates and family think of me is important, people who matter. I don’t care what others think,” Siraj said.
There were many doubts about Siraj’s overall ability and his consistency in delivering across formats for Team India when he first joined the Indian team. However, he steadily developed himself into a workhorse in Test cricket and became one of India’s most reliable pacers in the longest format. Siraj has come a long way in becoming one of India’s top fast bowlers.
Mohammed Siraj’s numbers for India
Since making his debut for India in 2017, Siraj has established his credentials as a reliable pacer across formats, however, he has shone the brightest in Test cricket. Siraj has so far played 42 Tests, 44 ODIs and 16 T20Is for India, with 215 wickets to his name in all three formats combined. In Tests, he has an impressive 130 wickets in just 42 matches at an average of 29.93, including five five-wicket hauls.
After playing a key role in India’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy triumph in Australia in 2021, Siraj helped India pull off a heroic 2-2 draw against hosts England in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025. Siraj picked up a five-wicket haul and bowled a sensational spell on the final 5th day of the 5th Test against England at the Oval to secure a thrilling 6-run victory for India.