It is not just the huge opportunity to play for Sunrisers Hyderabad which has pacer Mohammad Siraj delighted. The price he fetched (₹2.6 crore) seems to have floored him as well.
“I was expecting to be picked by some franchise in the IPL auction. But, the price which Sunrisers bid for me is unbelievable. This is the biggest day of my career,” said a visibly delighted Siraj.
“Definitely, my dad (Md. Ghouse) will not drive the auto now which he has been doing for three decades. That’s it.
“He has sacrificed so much and it is my turn to take care of him and my family,” said the fast bowler who took 41 wickets in the Ranji Trophy this season.
Target
“Well, the first target was to play for India-A and now I will use this IPL platform to come up with good performances to stake my claim for a slot in the Indian team.
“With the Champions Trophy coming up, I am determined to come good and prove a point or two,” he said.
“When I look back I think my bowling against Mumbai in the Ranji knockout game when I picked up nine wickets changed the course of my career,” said Siraj.
“Yes, I have to make some adjustments to be a different bowler in the T20 format though I am not new to this, having experienced the tough challenges in the recent Mushtaq Ali Trophy. I have to improve my skills with those slower ones and yorkers to be more effective,” he said.
“I must give credit to Bharat Arun Sir (Hyderabad Ranji coach) and captain Badrinath for the faith they had in me right from the start of the Ranji season. They have been my great source of strength and inspiration.
“I am also grateful to fellow Hyderabad fast bowlers Chama Milind and Ravi Kiran for always encouraging me,” said the speedster who was spotted by Jyothi Prasad, chairman of the Hyderabad selection panel and a former Ranji fast bowler himself.
Siraj picked the contest against Royal Challengers Bangalore as the one he is eagerly waiting for when he gets a chance to bowl to the likes of Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli and A.B. de Villiers.
“That is one game I am really excited about,” he added.
