Gabba Star Mohammed Siraj Goes Straight To Father’s Grave After Landing In India

The fast bowler went straight to his father's grave to seek his blessings. He was the pick of India's bowlers in the Test series Down-under.

Siraj visits his father's grave.

India won an exciting Test series against Australia by beating the hosts 2-1 in a close contest. India won the series from the point it looked impossible for the team to stage a comeback after the first Test. Team India even breached the Aussie fortress of Gabba. Mohammed Siraj was one of the architects of this win in Gabba where he picked up his maiden 5-fer.

The Indian players returned back home after a long series in Australia. Siraj on the other hand went straight to his father’s grave after landing in Hyderabad, his home town. We could see him praying and paying his tributes in the pictures which were shared widely on social media. His father passed away in November 2020 when he was playing for India in Australia. Due to the pandemic restrictions, Siraj chose not to travel back home as that would have meant missing the entire Australia series. "I went to father's graveyard straight after landing in Hyderabad. I was very emotional," Siraj told reporters on Thursday evening. 

Siraj picked up 13 wickets in three matches and also picked up a 5-fer in the Brisbane Test which helped India clinch the victory. “I am thankful that I was able to pick five wickets as it was a very tough situation for me after my dad passed away. But after talking to my mom at home, I gained some confidence. The call with my mom made me mentally strong. My focus was to fulfill my dad's wish," said Siraj after the fourth day's play in Brisbane.  

This was Siraj’s debut Test series and he did not let his captain down by his performance. After visiting his father’s grave, Siraj was seeing spending time with his niece at his home in Hyderabad. He was reuniting with his family after five months.

Siraj’s father’s name was Mohammed Ghouse, he always wanted his son to play Test cricket for India. Even Siraj reiterated that he was fulfilling his father’s dream by staying back and playing the Test series. He was teary-eyed during the national anthem of his debut Test. He later said that he got emotional as he remembered his father during the national anthem. 

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mohammed Siraj had to wipe away tears during the national anthem 🇮🇳<br>Siraj take earlier wickets for India of David Warner. <br>Mohammed Siraj 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsAUSTest?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>#INDvsAUSTest</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvsAUS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>#INDvsAUS</a> <a href="https://t.co/RaLubBx4lt" rel='nofollow'>pic.twitter.com/RaLubBx4lt</a></p>&mdash; Mohmmed Altaf (@Altaf_P7) <a href="https://twitter.com/Altaf_P7/status/1347025037090459648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" rel='nofollow'>January 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

"I want to thank God that I got the chance to play for India as it was my dad's wish too. If he was alive today, he would have been very happy. But I know his blessings were with me and I am speechless after my performance," Siraj had said.