Mohammed Siraj has been selected in the 15-member India squad to face West Indies in the upcoming Test series. Siraj was rewarded with his maiden Test call-up after his impressive show for India A.
Siraj was a part of India A squad which travelled to England prior to the Test series. Siraj, who has already played 3 T20I matches for India, has consistently performed with 40 wickets in England and at home recently.
“It is a dream come true for me. I wanted to represent my country in Tests and I knew I will be able to impress the selectors someday. I am so happy. I have done well for India A recently and had an idea about my selection in the test team,” Siraj said in an interview with Times of India.
Siraj revealed how former Indian skipper MS Dhoni helped him take his game to a notch above the rest. The 24 year-old recalled how Dhoni helped him when he was going for plenty of runs during his debut T20I game against New Zealand.
“Batsmen ke footwork ko dhyaan se dekh aur fir line aur length change kario (Watch the batsman’s footwork closely and then change the line and length accordingly),” Siraj said recalling the conversation with Dhoni, which he reckons changed his game forever. “His pep talk has helped me take my game to another level,” he added.
Siraj is now looking forward to the challenge in the whites and hopes to replicate his India A heroics for the national side against Jason Holder’s men. “I have performed well for India A recently and want to carry forward that momentum against the West Indies,” the pacer concluded.
India will play two Test matches against West Indies with the first one to be staged in Rajkot from October 4.
