Instantly when I looked at him he appeared very sharp: Bharat Arun on Mohammed Siraj

While Jasprit Bumrah has been on a prolonged break from international cricket because of his stress fracture in the back, it was a million dollar question about who was going to get the wheels rolling for the Indians early in the innings. Surprisingly, other than seasoned campaigner Mohammed Shami doing the honours, young RCB fast bowler, Mohammed Siraj turned the game on its head in all three formats of the game.

He rose to prominence under the reign of Virat Kohli, also his teammate at RCB and definitely under the watchful aegis of former Indian coach, Ravi Shastri. When Shastri led the charge for Team India as the gaffer, Bharat Arun played an extremely crucial role in shaping the Indian bowling attack as their bowling coach.

The rise of the Indian fast bowling mafia headed by Bumrah and Shami is very well documented but the transformation from a rookie fast bowler clawing his way amongst a slew of elites to leading the Indian pace attack in a span of three Test matches, it is a tale that very well needed to be said.

Talking to Cricbuzz on a show called “Rise of New India”, Bharat Arun said, “I first saw Siraj when I was the bowling coach of RCB. We were playing Sunrisers and he had come in as a net bowler. Instantly, when I looked at him, he appeared extremely sharp, very impressive and I clearly remember walking up to Laxman and talking about him. I said 'He is such a talented bowler. Is he playing any cricket in Hyderabad?' He said, 'Not that I can think of but I can recommend his name to the selectors if you are so impressed'. And then that was the end of the story.”

Adding that x-factor that changed the entire conception about Mohammed Siraj, Bharat added, “As providence would have it, I came back the next year as the coach of Hyderabad and Siraj was not part of the team. So when I asked for Siraj, they brought him to the selection panel and after I insisted, Siraj was included in the Hyderabad Ranji team. He went on to be the highest wicket-taker that year. The enthusiasm and the energy he showed when he was bowling was very unique and that was one of the main reasons for Siraj to be successful. The kind of energy he showed is required for a fast bowler.”

We all know what followed thereafter is history as Mohammed Siraj has now become an elemental bowling force for India in all formats of the game.