MS Dhoni’s Crucial Advice to Mohammed Siraj That Helped Indian Bowler Handle Fan Abuse

Mohammed Siraj has been in remarkable red-ball form, and recently picked up a four-wicket haul in a Test match against the West Indies.

MS Dhoni’s Crucial Advice to Mohammed Siraj That Helped Indian Bowler Handle Fan Abuse

Mohammed Siraj received a healthy advice from MS Dhoni at the start of his career (Image via News 18)

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Mohammed Siraj recently shared a piece of advice that he received from ex-India captain MS Dhoni after having broken into the national team in 2017. Siraj made his international debut under Virat Kohli’s captaincy in 2017, but was fortunate enough to share the dressing room with Dhoni as well. 

The right-arm pacer has experienced several ups and downs throughout his playing career. The 31-year-old first played for India in October 2017, in a T20I against New Zealand, where he was hammered for 53 runs in just four overs. Mohammed Siraj saw himself getting in and out of the squad due to his inconsistent performances, only to redeem his career after the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The highest point of Siraj’s career arrived in January 2023, when he made it to the top of the ICC ODI Bowling Rankings. The Hyderabad-born pacer then followed it up by delivering a historic display in the 2023 Asia Cup final against Sri Lanka, where he finished with figures of 6/21. He became the joint-fastest bowler to take a six-wicket haul in ODIs, matching Chaminda Vaas’ record of five wickets in only 16 balls.

However, early in his career, Mohammed Siraj was the subject of intense social media trolling and abuse on the back of his sub-par performances, with many social media users often directing vile comments towards the bowler’s identity and humble beginnings. Most recently, the pacer recalled how fans hailed him as a ‘hero’ for a good display, only to treat him like a ‘zero’ during his struggles.

Siraj shared that valuable counsel from former India World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni, is what helped him deal with criticism after he joined the national team setup. He revealed that the legendary India captain urged him to not pay attention to what others said or felt about him.

The 44-year-old told him that the public would support him whenever he was performing well, but would inevitably turn against him during his low days, thereby instructing him to seek validation only from his family and teammates.

I remember when I joined the India team, MS Dhoni had told me, don’t pay attention to what others say. When you are performing well, the entire world will be with you, and when you aren’t, they will abuse you.

Mohammed Siraj recollected in his interview with The Indian Express

Nonetheless, Mohammed Siraj has now established himself as India’s leading fast bowler. He even finished as the highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with 23 scalps in nine innings at an average of 32.43. 

Rohit Sharma’s message to Mohammed Siraj following Champions Trophy exclusion

Mohammed Siraj was shockingly left out of India’s 2025 Champions Trophy squad, with the Men in Blue going on to win the title after an unbeaten campaign. Siraj admitted that he was mentally affected by the snub, and shared the message that he received from captain Rohit Sharma. 

Mohammed Siraj Rohit Sharma after Champions Trophy snub
Mohammed Siraj and Rohit Sharma playing for India, in an ODI. (via NDTV Sports)

Siraj has played 44 ODIs since making his debut in the format in January 2019, since then picking up 71 wickets at an average of 24.04. Despite being a regular across all the three formats until the start of the year, Siraj was surprisingly omitted from the 2025 Champions Trophy squad as well as the white-ball series against England, with the selectors going ahead with 23-year-old Harshit Rana instead.

Siraj talked about the message he got from Rohit Sharma, after not being picked. He admitted that the then captain of the team India did not want the fast bowler to spend more time on the bench, as spinners would play a major role on the surface in Dubai, where India played its matches in. He further stated that Sharma suggested him to spend some time with his family and train for the cricketing season ahead. 

We played the Champions Trophy in Dubai, there was heat, and we needed more spinners there, that’s why I wasn’t picked. Rohit [Sharma] bhai told me he didn’t want me to go there and just sit on the bench.

Mohammed Siraj in the aforementioned interview

Bygones be bygones, Siraj will be making his much-awaited return to white-ball cricket this month. The Gujarat Titans star has been picked in India’s ODI squad for the upcoming tour to Australia, in the absence of bowling partner Jasprit Bumrah, who has been rested. 

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