Mohammed Siraj had his February mapped out perfectly. A Real Madrid match on the 15th at the Santiago Bernabeu, followed by preparations for Ramzan with his family. After leading Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy, the pacer had earned some rest. The T20 World Cup seemed like a distant dream—one that belonged to someone else’s destiny.
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But destiny, as Siraj would soon discover, had other plans. In the space of 24 hours, everything changed. The Bernabeu would have to wait. India was calling.
From Bernabeu to Wankhede in 24 hours
Just a day before India’s T20 World Cup opener against the USA, Siraj was at home in Hyderabad, miles away from any World Cup dream. For the past 18 months, he had watched from the sidelines as India groomed their T20 squad for the tournament. When he wasn’t selected for the bilateral T20 series, the message seemed clear—this World Cup wasn’t meant for him.
“I never thought I would play in the World Cup,” Siraj admitted candidly at the pre-match press conference. “When I didn’t play in T20s, I understood that I wouldn’t be part of it this year.”
Then came the messages. First, from Adrian le Roux, India’s support staff, asking about his plans. Siraj’s response was blunt: “Don’t message me right now—I’m resting because I’m playing two four-day games.”
But fate intervened when Harshit Rana picked up a knee injury during India’s warm-up match against South Africa. The selectors needed a replacement quickly, and they turned to a familiar face—someone who had already been part of India’s victorious T20 World Cup 2024 campaign. What happened next changed Siraj’s entire February calendar.
‘Surya bhai, don’t joke’
Minutes later, his phone rang. Captain Suryakumar Yadav was on the line.
“Get ready, pack your bag, and come,” Surya told him.
Siraj’s first instinct? Disbelief. “Surya bhai, don’t joke, because this is not going to happen,” he replied, convinced his captain was pulling his leg.
But Surya wasn’t joking. Before Siraj could process the conversation, another call came through—this time from the team management. The shocking news was confirmed. He was flying to Mumbai. The Real Madrid match, the family time, the Ramzan preparations—all would have to be rescheduled.
“My plan was that on the 15th, there was a Real Madrid match, and I was going to watch it,” Siraj revealed. “But whatever God has written will happen.”
From flight to fight mode
Twenty-four hours is hardly enough time to shift from domestic cricket captain to World Cup warrior, but Siraj had a decade of international experience to lean on. As he sat on the flight to Mumbai—heading to the Wankhede instead of the Bernabeu—the surreal nature of it all hit him.
“When I was sitting on the flight, it felt like a dream,” he said.
But dreams require execution, and Siraj knew exactly what he needed to do. There was no time for elaborate preparations or tactical overhauls. His approach was simple: trust what had worked.
“I just bowled the same line and length that I was bowling in the Ranji Trophy,” Siraj explained. “My plan was to stick to the new ball, bowl wicket to wicket, and if I could get a wicket there, it would help the team a lot.”
Delivering when it mattered
The plan worked to perfection. Siraj’s three-wicket haul against the USA was instrumental in India’s opening victory, justifying the selectors’ faith and vindicated his own belief in his methods. Even the night before the match, as he tried to sleep in unfamiliar surroundings, his mindset remained clear.
“I just thought I would stick to the same weapon that has given me success so far,” he said. “And I got the same success today as well.”
What made the performance even more remarkable was the context. India had slumped to 77 for 6 before captain Suryakumar Yadav’s heroic 84 not out dragged them to a competitive 161 for 9. Siraj’s early wickets with the new ball then set the tone for India’s defence, helping secure a crucial World Cup victory.
God changed my destiny
For a man who never expected to be part of this World Cup, Mohammed Siraj’s journey from family time to the flight that felt like a dream perfectly encapsulates the beautiful unpredictability of cricket.
“No one can change what God has written,” Siraj reflected, his voice carrying the weight of someone still processing his fortune. “I came, played the match—everything was written.”
Real Madrid’s loss was India’s gain. And whilst the Bernabeu will still be there for another day, this World Cup moment—arriving 24 hours before kickoff and delivering when it mattered most—will stay with Siraj forever.
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