Mohammed Siraj’s life story is a testament to the power of perseverance, talent, and an unyielding spirit. Born on March 13, 1994, in Hyderabad, Telangana, Siraj emerged from a modest background to become one of India’s premier fast bowlers, earning accolades on the global stage. His path—from the dusty lanes of his neighborhood to the hallowed grounds of international cricket—is an inspiring saga of grit, sacrifice, and triumph over adversity.
Siraj grew up in a financially strained Hyderabadi Muslim family. His father, Mohammed Ghaus, was an auto-rickshaw driver, while his mother, Shabana Begum, managed the household as a homemaker. With an elder brother, Mohammed Ismail, pursuing a career as an engineer, the family pinned their hopes on education as a way out of poverty. However, Siraj’s heart lay elsewhere. As a child, he was indifferent to academics, often scolded by his mother for skipping studies. Instead, he found solace in cricket, a passion ignited in the gullies of Hyderabad’s First Lancer area, where he bowled with a tennis ball alongside friends.
Cricket began as a pastime for Siraj, not a career. He started as a batsman but switched to bowling after friends remarked that his natural pace outshone his batting. With no formal coaching or access to a cricket academy due to financial constraints, Siraj honed his skills through street games. At 16, he bowled with a leather ball for the first time, taking nine wickets in a club match for his uncle’s team—an early glimpse of his raw talent. His brother Ismail and friends encouraged him to pursue cricket seriously, and in 2014, he joined the Charminar Cricket Club. There, coach Mohammed Mahboob Ahmed spotted his potential, recalling how Siraj’s height and pace stood out in local leather-ball tournaments.
Siraj’s breakthrough came in the 2015-16 Ranji Trophy season with Hyderabad, where he made his first-class debut. The following year, he topped Hyderabad’s wicket charts with 41 scalps in nine matches, finishing as the tournament’s third-highest wicket-taker. This stellar performance catapulted him into the spotlight, earning him a Rs. 2.6 crore contract with Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 2017 IPL auction—a staggering leap from his base price of Rs. 20 lakh. That same year, he debuted for India in a T20I against New Zealand, though his early international outings were inconsistent, marked by expensive spells and limited opportunities.
The turning point arrived in 2020 during India’s tour of Australia. Tragedy struck when Siraj’s father passed away while he was in quarantine Down Under. Despite the option to return home, Siraj stayed, driven by his father’s dream of seeing him excel for India. Replacing the injured Mohammed Shami, he debuted in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne, taking five wickets across two innings in a historic Indian victory. In the series finale at the Gabba, Siraj claimed his maiden Test five-wicket haul (5/73), leading India’s pace attack to a series-clinching win—Australia’s first loss at that fortress in 32 years. His 13 wickets in three Tests made him India’s highest wicket-taker in the series, cementing his reputation as a rising star.
Siraj’s ascent continued in 2023. In the Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, he demolished the opposition with a career-best 6/21, including four wickets in one over—the first Indian to achieve this feat in ODIs. This spell bowled Sri Lanka out for 50, securing India’s eighth Asia Cup title and earning Siraj the Player of the Match award. Weeks later, he rose to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI bowlers’ rankings, a pinnacle moment in a year where he also took 14 wickets in the 2023 ODI World Cup. In 2024, he played a key role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph in the West Indies and USA, adding a world title to his resume.
Beyond cricket, Siraj’s journey reflects resilience off the field. In 2021, he faced racial abuse from Australian spectators at the Sydney Test, yet responded with dignity, alerting umpires and continuing to perform. In October 2024, Telangana honored him with the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police, recognizing his contributions. Now with Gujarat Titans in the IPL (signed for Rs. 12.25 crore in 2024), Siraj’s net worth exceeds Rs. 50 crore, a far cry from the days he relied on Rs. 70 pocket money from his brother.
From a boy who bowled barefoot at Hyderabad’s Idgah ground to a three-format stalwart for India, Mohammed Siraj’s life embodies the triumph of dreams over destiny. His story inspires millions, proving that with hard work and heart, even the humblest beginnings can lead to the grandest stages.
Leave a Reply