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Mohammed Siraj is the perfect example of an Indian Premier League (IPL) ‘rags to riches’ story. Siraj was a net bowler despite proving himself in Ranji Trophy. Siraj made headlines when he was picked for Rs 2.6 crore by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and in the subsequent season by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for Rs 2.2 crore. But before he made his IPL debut, he used to be a net bowler. Recently, Siraj narrated a story when he annoyed KL Rahul who used to play for RCB.
"I had performed with the Under-23 team. I had played one match in the Ranji Trophy. I had taken a wicket but then I was dropped for the next two matches and I was out of the team.
“Next year it was RCB vs Sunrisers (Hyderabad) and I was a net bowler then. I bowled bouncer after bouncer to KL Rahul, and he got angry. He told me ‘khali bouncer hi aata hain tujhe’ (do you only know how to bowl bouncers). I said ‘Bhaiya I know other stuff too,” Siraj told Gaurav Kapur on Breakfast with Champions.
Later, Siraj became an integral part of RCB bowling lineup. Before mega auction, he was retained for Rs 7 crore by the franchise. Siraj has gone from strength to strength. He led India’s pace attack in the iconic 2020-21 tour to Australia where several Indian players got injured. The ongoing season has been Siraj’s best IPL season as he has already picked 16 wickets including a four-fer after 2017.
Siraj also recalled how he was picked for Hyderabad Ranji Trophy squad after impressing Bharat Arun.
“Then Bharat Sir become quite impressed. So he went and asked (VVS) Laxman sir, ‘who is this boy?’” Siraj recalled.
“Next year Arun sir became the coach of Hyderabad for the Ranji Trophy. The selectors were not selecting me for the Ranji Trophy. So Arun sir said, ‘I want this boy in the team. If you listen then only I will join the association, otherwise not. So Arun sir came and picked me and I was the highest wicket-taker that year,” he added.
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