‘Humble’ Mohammed Siraj Gets Emotional After Playing T20 World Cup Opener Despite Not Being a Part of India’s Scheme of Things

Mohammed Siraj planned a European vacation before returning home to celebrate Ramadan with his family and prepare for the 2026 IPL season.

‘Humble’ Mohammed Siraj Gets Emotional After Playing T20 World Cup Opener Despite Not Being a Part of India’s Scheme of Things

Mohammed Siraj revealed the details of his last-minute T20 World Cup call-up. (via India Today)

Mohammed Siraj‘s last-minute call-up to India’s T20 World Cup squad as a replacement seems straight out of a movie. Opening the bowling for the Men in Blue against the United States, the 31-year-old delivered a performance that helped guide his team to a 29-run victory.

A day before the start of the 2026 T20 World Cup, Harshit Rana sustained a knee injury while bowling during India’s warm-up encounter against South Africa. The 24-year-old was unfortunately ruled out, with Mohammed Siraj being called up as a late replacement. Siraj’s previous T20I appearance for India was in July 2024 against Sri Lanka. Prior to this call-up, he had only played 16 T20Is, where he took 14 scalps.

While a regular in India’s Test and ODI setup, Mohammed Siraj, however, had not been in the scheme of things in the shortest format. He was drafted into the playing XI in the World Cup opener against the USA, given the responsibility to lead the bowling attack while defending a modest target of 162 runs. Siraj paid off the trust shown in him, picking up figures of 3/29 in his four-over spell, to restrict the USA at 132/8. 

Speaking after the match, Siraj opened up about his sudden change of plans. As Hyderabad failed to make it to the Ranji knock-outs, the veteran pacer revealed that he had planned to travel back to Madrid to spectate a match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad.

However, he disclosed that he received a call from Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, who told him to immediately pack for Mumbai to join the team, a request Siraj initially dismissed as a joke. He told the reporters:

Then suddenly, Surya bhai [Suryakumar Yadav] called me. He said, ‘Get ready, pack your bag, and come.’ I said, ‘Surya bhai, don’t joke, because this is not going to happen’… So suddenly, I got shocking news.

Mohammed Siraj exclaimed that he had even asked Team India physio Adrian Le Roux not contact him for a while. He also expressed that his fate changed in just 24 hours, and playing in the World Cup felt like a dream, especially since he had not played regular T20Is for India since their 2024 triumph. The veteran pacer’s line and length were equally impressive, which he attributed to his bowling in the Ranji Trophy.

I bowled the same line and length that I was bowling in the Ranji Trophy… So 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.

It will be interesting to see whether Siraj is picked for India’s second T20 World Cup game against the Netherlands after the impressive showing. Against the USA, Suryakumar Yadav was named POTM after he scored a remarkable 84 off 49 balls. 

India’s playing XI against the Netherlands is in question as decision over Mohammed Siraj’s inclusion looms

Mohammed Siraj, after a strong showing in India’s 2026 T20 World Cup opener against USA, has now posed selection headaches for the team management. Siraj delivered a masterful spell against the United States, picking up the three crucial wickets during the chase.

Mohammed Siraj vs. Netherlands
It remains to be seen whether Mohammed Siraj is picked in playinG XI against the Netherlands. (via NDTV Sports)

He was first handed the ball in the second over, with Andries Gous on strike. The wicket-keeper batter then fired the second ball for a massive six towards long-on. Siraj came back strongly, dismissing Gous soon after, with the catch being taken by Tilak Varma at cover-point. After Arshdeep Singh dismissed captain Monank Patel in the next over, Siraj then removed Saiteja Mukkamalla in the fourth over. 

For India’s second match against the Netherlands at Delhi’s Arun Jaitley Stadium, the Men in Blue may see the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the opener due to a small injury. If Bumrah returns, either Siraj or Arshdeep Singh would likely be benched. Given the Indian team’s batting struggles in the first match, they are expected to be hesitant to remove any batters or all-rounders for fear of a collapse.

Meanwhile, the team could also take a chance with Sanju Samson in batting, given the limited number of right-handers in the playing XI. Samson, however, is not in good form, having only scored 46 runs in the previous T20I home series against New Zealand.

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