Bhai, I am really tired: Mohammed Siraj's brother recalls chat with gladiatorial pacer

India Today

In an exclusive interview with Rajdeep Sardesai, Mohammed Ismail, brother of Mohammed Siraj, spoke about the Indian pacer's relentless 'never die' attitude - shaped in the streets of Hyderabad - and his rise from tennis-ball cricket to the highest level of the game.

Transcript

00:00I'm joined live by someone who represents the true fighting spirit of this new India team.

00:05He's the hero of the day.

00:06And therefore, I'm joined happily by Mohamed Ismail.

00:11Mohamed Ismail is the brother of Mohamed Siraj.

00:13You're joining me there from Hyderabad.

00:15Before, Mohamed Ismail, you've got a lot of information about your family and your whole country,

00:21which is how your brother has done bowling today.

00:24Wow!

00:25No answer.

00:25Fantastic.

00:26Fantastic.

00:27Tell me how you were feeling.

00:30When Siraj was bowling in the end and taking all those wickets, what was going on in your home?

00:36Thank you, thank you.

00:37Thank you very much, sir.

00:38First of all, congratulations for the victory of India.

00:42And second, we are very, very proud that Siraj was a great performance.

00:46And to see that India has won its match and won its performance.

00:50So, it's been a double-fucked in the house.

00:52It's been a great pleasure to have a great family home.

00:56You know, somebody once told me,

00:57my late father, who played for India,

01:00Ismail told me that in cricket, you don't need talent.

01:02You also need heart.

01:04Jigar chahi.

01:05Exactly.

01:05Do you think,

01:06What is this Jigar?

01:09Where does he get this fighting spirit?

01:10He was bowling the most overs in the series,

01:13played all five tests,

01:14and was still bowling 140+.

01:16Where is this Jigar spirit?

01:19What is this Jigar spirit?

01:20What is this Jigar spirit?

01:21It's a never-die attitude, sir.

01:23I have to do something.

01:25I have to do.

01:26I will do.

01:27My attitude was on the other side.

01:30Is this before?

01:32Has he always had this,

01:33even when he was playing tennis ball cricket?

01:35Yes, it's a bad attitude on the other side.

01:38But, like, till 2017,

01:40he didn't play the ball as you know that,

01:43in within a year and a half,

01:45one and a half year,

01:47he ran the trophy,

01:49the Paul's team,

01:49the trophy,

01:51the Iran,

01:52the other side of Hyderabad,

01:53the other side of Hyderabad,

01:54the other side of Hyderabad,

01:56and then National Duty,

01:57within two years of span,

02:00he did achieve so much of the team.

02:02So,

02:02he didn't have to do it.

02:04You know,

02:05Ismail,

02:06he was asked today,

02:07about what keeps him going,

02:09and he has changed his emoji,

02:11to the word Believe,

02:13and I am told,

02:13even in the house,

02:14he has a poster of Believe,

02:16along with Cristiano Ronaldo.

02:17Is Cristiano Ronaldo,

02:19the hero of,

02:20of Mohamed Siraj,

02:22along with Virat Kohli,

02:23I am told.

02:25Yes, he is a huge fan of Cristiano Ronaldo,

02:27so if you keep in the wallpaper,

02:29if you keep in the wallpaper,

02:30then you consider Ronaldo's idol.

02:32So, Ronaldo's motivation will die.

02:37Okay, so Ronaldo's motivation will die.

02:40Of course,

02:40Virat played a big role,

02:41in giving him his opportunities,

02:43early on also,

02:44in his career,

02:45but,

02:46in general…

02:46100%,

02:47100%,

02:47sir.

02:49Because,

02:49first of all,

02:50Siraj told me,

02:50I owe my career to Virat Bhai.

02:52Whatever I am today,

02:53is because of just Virat Bhai.

02:55He backed me,

02:56when I was down,

02:57he backed me,

02:57when my performance was,

02:59not up to the mark,

03:00back in 2018,

03:01you know,

03:02when his IPL was not,

03:03was that good.

03:05So, Virat Bhai was the one,

03:06who, you know,

03:06stood with him,

03:07he took with him,

03:08and bagged him.

03:10So, at Virat Bhai,

03:11he was very,

03:12he was the one that he was.

03:14Can I ask you this,

03:17Ismail,

03:18Siraj went to Australia,

03:20in 2021,

03:21for the first time,

03:22to play for India,

03:23your father,

03:25passed away,

03:26while the tour was on,

03:27Siraj was given a choice,

03:28come back home,

03:29or stay,

03:30stay in Australia,

03:31he decided to stay on.

03:33Is that what he is all about?

03:34He,

03:35even,

03:35he did not go,

03:36come for his family,

03:37a father's funeral,

03:38because he wanted to play for India.

03:40He was a dream of his father,

03:42that,

03:43one day,

03:43my son will play,

03:44which,

03:45Siraj,

03:45tell us a little bit more about that.

03:48Yes,

03:48exactly,

03:49it was,

03:49my father's dream to,

03:50you know,

03:51Siraj,

03:51and you have to represent the rest,

03:53and,

03:53that time,

03:54Siraj spoke with my mother,

03:55and mother said,

03:56mommy said,

03:57please,

03:57Siraj,

03:58you stay there,

03:59and play for your country,

04:00and I'm going to go.

04:02So,

04:03he was,

04:03you know,

04:03it was totally broken down,

04:05but,

04:06still he managed,

04:07we won that series,

04:08water-gavastar trophy,

04:10yes,

04:11so,

04:11he is mentally,

04:12and physically,

04:13very strong.

04:15Mentally and physically,

04:16very strong,

04:16is that,

04:17you know,

04:18he's come the hard way,

04:20this,

04:21they know that,

04:22that a boy,

04:23who plays in the balls,

04:24leather balls,

04:25not plays in tennis balls,

04:26he has always thought,

04:28I'll give up,

04:29in all his,

04:30you have seen Siraj,

04:31from the attention,

04:32and he thought,

04:33I won't do this,

04:34how will I reach India,

04:35or,

04:35before,

04:36it was the chance,

04:36that I'll do it one day,

04:38and I'll show you.

04:39And that,

04:40he never,

04:41you know,

04:41give up,

04:41I've never done it.

04:43Even when,

04:44you know,

04:45after 10 things,

04:45he got the spot,

04:46around for a,

04:47he didn't select,

04:48so,

04:48he didn't do it,

04:49he didn't do it,

04:50he didn't do it,

04:51but he thought,

04:52I should do it more,

04:52man up,

04:53and I should do it more,

04:54and I should do it more,

04:54work out,

04:55and I should do it more,

04:56so,

04:56he got the time period,

04:59He used to go to gym fitness for his workout.

05:05He used to go to gym fitness and practice for his workout.

05:10He had a lot of workouts.

05:12He was missing.

05:13He felt that he was missing.

05:16So is that the big difference you've seen?

05:20He's very fit now.

05:21His fitness is what has changed him.

05:23That's why he's able to bowl fast for such a long period of time.

05:27He always focuses on fitness.

05:30He doesn't eat junk food.

05:32He needs to avoid eating outside.

05:34He needs to maintain the diet.

05:37So yes.

05:38In Hyderabad, you're saying that he doesn't eat biryani today?

05:44Definitely. He'll have it.

05:47But occasionally not on regular basis.

05:49He's always doing something.

05:51But junk food, pizza, diet course, he does.

05:56Have you spoken to him since we won the match?

06:00And what did he say to you on the phone?

06:02What did he say to you on the phone?

06:03Yes.

06:04I was talking about his first thing.

06:05I had an appreciation for his family.

06:08And he was very, very, very happy.

06:11On the way, the bus was traveling and going to the hotel.

06:15So I was very tired.

06:17My body was very tired.

06:19My body was very tired.

06:19My body was tired, but he wants to win the match for the nation.

06:29Tell me though, when he's not playing cricket, is Siraj very relaxed?

06:35Because he feels very intense on the cricket field.

06:37As if he's ready for a fight.

06:39No, no, no, he's completely different off the field.

06:46Like, you know, he's happy wala mood wata ha, misra.

06:50Asi mazak, sabta, bagara.

06:53So, when he feels like, he's like dragged by aggression, gussa, hit karna hai, that's it.

06:59And how is the family celebrating today at home?

07:09How is the Mohamad Siraj and family, Mohamad, Ismail and all?

07:12How are you?

07:13What's the celebration today?

07:15A little bit today.

07:15Today, you have to eat biryani for everyone in your colony.

07:19I'm not surprised.

07:21We are just waiting for him to come.

07:23We are just waiting for him to come.

07:24We are just waiting for him to come.

07:26We are just waiting for him to come.

07:27Right, right, right.

07:30But listen, Ismail, he's done the country enormously proud.

07:34He's done Hyderabad, the family and the country very proud.

07:37When I see Mohamad Siraj, I can see the fire of new India in him.

07:42So, I'm watching these pictures.

07:45I'm watching your pictures.

07:46There's a little party in your house.

07:47It's just started a little bit.

07:48But congratulations, Ismail, and all the very best.

07:53Thank you so much for joining me.

07:55Thank you, boss.

07:56My fucking beautiful.

07:57Thank you, Amit.

07:58Wonderful, wonderful story.

08:00Mohamad Siraj has come from the back lanes of Hyderabad to become the latest national hero.

08:05There are so many Indian cricket stories.

08:07Father was an auto rickshaw driver.

08:09Today, he has done the country proud.

08:11This is the story of new India.

08:13An India which is driven purely, at least on the cricket field, by merit.

08:17Not by who your father is.

08:20I am a living example of that.

08:21I am a living example of that.

08:22My dad played for the country.

08:24I wasn't good enough.

08:25On the sports field, you have to prove yourself.

08:28And Siraj has done that.

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