Tears of joy

Siraj fought hard to hold his emotions when India head coach Ravi Shastri was handing over the Indian cap to him ahead of the match. (Photo: BCCI)

Unfortunately, Siraj did not have the most impressive debuts. He conceded 53 runs in his 4-over spell on a batting paradise. (Photo: BCCI)

However, the right-arm quick bowler did manage to get the prized wicket of New Zealand captain Kane Williamson. (Photo: AP)

Interestingly, off-spinner Parvez Rasool attracted controversy when he was caught chewing gum during the national anthem earlier this year.

It wasn’t really a dream debut for Mohammed Siraj in terms of the outcome of the match and his bowling figures but it was so much more than mere numbers – it was about a dream journey reaching its final destination.

Social media was buzzing after seeing the youngster’s emotions on the cricket field during the national anthem.

Coming from a little known town in Hyderabad, Siraj’s journey to the Indian team was nothing short of a fairytale and the 23-year old’s emotions while singing the national anthem on Saturday evening was only an illustration of that fact. (Photo: BCCI)

The Hyderabad seamer, who made his first class debut only in 2015, could not hold his tears while the national anthem was playing at Rajkot, before the start of the 2nd India-New Zealand T20I – his first ever India appearance.

The tears of an auto rickshaw driver’s son who doesn’t let his father drive an auto now, touched everyone present on the ground.