Siraj got his maiden test call-up after his impressive show for India A.
Mohammed Siraj has been selected in the 15-member squad to face West Indies in the upcoming test series. Siraj was rewarded with his maiden test call-up after his impressive show for India A.
Siraj was a part of India A squad which travelled to England prior to the Test series. Siraj, who has already played 3 T20I matches for India, has consistently performed with 40 wickets in England and at home recently.
Siraj has revealed how former Indian skipper MS Dhoni's pep talk helped him take his game to a notch above the rest.
Talking to Times of India, Siraj recalled how Dhoni helped him when he was going for plenty of runs during his debut T20I game against New Zealand.
Siraj said that Dhoni asked him to watch the batsman's footwork closely and then change the line and length accordingly. Siraj said that Dhoni's pep talk helped him take his game to another level.
Virat Kohli also helped ease off his nerves before his debut in November 2017.
“When I was selected for T20Is against New Zealand last year, I had a chat with Kohli bhai. I was nervous," he told TOI.
According to Siraj, Kohli told him not to worry and just be ready.
Siraj dismissed New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson in the game to pick his first international wicket. He later played couple of matches in T20 Nidahas Trophy.
Siraj is now looking forward to the challenge in the whites and hopes to replicate his India A heroics for the national side against Jason Holder's men.
“I have performed well for India A recently and want to carry forward that momentum against the West Indies," the pacer said.
Reacting to his maiden Test call, Siraj had told DNA, “I was not expecting this at all but my performance with India A recently in the Quadrangular series involving Australia A and South Africa A and in England was quite decent. I bagged 40-odd wickets. So, I thought I would get a chance in the team soon, but didn’t expect it to be this soon.”
India will play two Test matches against West Indies with the first Test set to be staged in Rajkot from October 4.
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