I swore at myself: Mohammed Siraj on how he overcame nerves during Boxing Day Test debut

India fast bowler Mohammed Siraj recalled his debut in the Boxing Day Test against Australia in Melbourne, saying he did feel a bit of nerves but a lot of self-motivation helped him overcome them at the MCG.

Mohammed Siraj had an emotional lead up to his Test debut as he had lost his father right after arriving in Australia from the UAE wherein he played for Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2020.

Siraj was given an option to head back to be with his family during the trying times but he chose not to. With words of encouragement from his mother and teammates, Siraj focussed on the job in hand in Australia.

Siraj stayed back to fulfill his father’s dreams -- play Test cricket for India. The 26-year-old had made his India debut in T20Is as early as 2017 but he had to wait 4 more years to don the whites for India. The moment finally came at the Boxing Day Test as Siraj replaced an injured Mohammed Shami.

“When I made my debut, whatever nervousness I had, it went away. But when I came in to bowl, I felt a bit of pressure. After bowling my first over, I spoke to myself,” Siraj said on Sports Today.

Siraj has been a terrific performer in red-ball cricket. His numbers in white-ball cricket, especially in the IPL, don’t do justice to his talent. But when he got an opportunity to bowl with the red cherry, Siraj made the most of it.

'I kept talking to myself'

Siraj’s first Test victim was Marnus Labuschagne. He didn’t get an opportunity to bowl in the first session of the Boxing Day Test but he soon adapted to the conditions in Australia when the chance came his way. 5 wickets over 2 innings on his debut. 13 wickets and table-topper for India in his debut series. Siraj made his father proud. HIs country was proud of his achievements.

The young pacer revealed he even swore at himself to fire him up against the top-quality Australian line-up. Siraj ended up picking Labuschagne, Cameron Green and Travis Head in his first Test.

“I had already performed against these people. When I was bowling, a partnership was building between Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head. They were playing well. Then I thought I had taken 8 wickets against these guys for India A. They were the same batsmen.

“I kept talking to myself. I performed well in domestic cricket and for India A. But after coming to Australia, I didn't play the T20s or the ODIs, so I wanted to perform there. I backed myself, I even swore at myself. After that, I was able to do it.”