“He Was Angry With Me: Ajinkya Rahane Reveals Untold Story of Siraj’s Debut

Mohammed Siraj has turned out to be one of India’s most reliable red-ball bowlers in recent years, and his latest exploits in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England proved just that.

Siraj picked up a series-leading 23 wickets in the five-match Test series, including a stunning five-wicket haul in the final innings of the Oval Test, helping India seal a dramatic six-run win and level the series 2-2.

But things weren’t always so smooth for the 31-year-old pacer. Ajinkya Rahane, who captained India during Siraj’s debut Test series in Australia in 2020-21, recently shared a candid moment from that tour.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Rahane revealed that Siraj was angry with him for bringing him into the attack too late during his debut match.

“In Australia, when he was making his debut, he was angry because I had introduced him into the attack very late,” Rahane said. “What I like about Siraj is that he always liked to bowl longer spells. Even in that series, he was willing to bowl with the same intensity.”

Siraj made his Test debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) under Rahane’s captaincy in one of India’s most iconic Test series wins. According to Rahane, that anger and aggression have continued to define Siraj’s bowling even today.

“He still has that anger inside him. It brings out the best in him,” Rahane added. “We saw it again in the England series, the aggression, the intensity. He’s always warmed up and ready from the very first ball.”

With India managing Jasprit Bumrah’s workload by playing him in only three of the five Tests against England, Siraj shouldered the responsibility brilliantly.

He bowled over 185 overs across the series and stepped up notably in Bumrah’s absence, including a six-wicket haul in the second Test at Edgbaston.

Rahane also praised Siraj’s growth as a leader of the pace attack.

“I have noticed one change in him, he’s now confident about his own fields. When a bowler tells the captain, ‘Give me this field’, then it becomes really easy,” Rahane said. “In this series, the responsibility helped him when Bumrah was not there.”

Thanks to his performance, Siraj jumped to 15th in the ICC Test Bowler Rankings and was named Player of the Match in the final Test at The Oval.