Mohammed Siraj says Test cricket is his ‘everything’, endorses BCCI call to make domestic cricket mandatory

When Mohammed Siraj stepped onto the field at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur on Thursday for Hyderabad’s final Ranji Trophy Group B encounter against Vidarbha, it had been almost five years since he last represented his State in the red-ball competition.

Coincidentally, that match was also against the same opponent, with the pacer managing a wicket in each innings. Since that game at the Uppal Stadium, Siraj has become a mainstay in the Indian Test setup, picking up 100 wickets in just 36 Tests at an average of 30.47.

“Playing for Hyderabad after so many years felt very good. It was great playing with some of my friends,” the fast bowler told Sportstar on the sidelines of the game.

The fact that the 30-year-old has played almost twice as many Tests as he has Ranji Trophy matches (19) is a testament to his meteoric rise in the format.

“Red-ball cricket is my life and I will do anything to play it. I have always said Test cricket is my everything,” the Hyderabad pacer said.

“When I get the red ball in hand, I enjoy it a lot. I don’t think about my performance too. You can see I bowl long spells. That is because I love this format so much,” he added.

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The last two rounds of the Ranji Trophy season have seen multiple Indian stalwarts, including Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, return to the domestic fold after many years. Siraj believes the BCCI’s directive encouraging senior players to participate in the tournament is a step in the right direction.

“When you are free or available as a player, you have to take time out to represent your State. The youngsters in the team will be motivated by your presence. They will get a boost too, sharing dressing rooms with Virat bhai and Rohit bhai. It is a good sign for the new generation,” he said.

Since 2021, no other Indian pacer has bowled more deliveries across all three formats than Siraj. His tally of 7,278 balls places him fifth among all fast bowlers worldwide during this period and second among Indian bowlers, behind only R. Ashwin (7,857).

However, Siraj dismissed the cricket fraternity’s calls for him to take a break, especially after a gruelling tour of Australia earlier this year.

“As a human being, of course, you need some rest from time to time. But when you have the ball in hand and you are representing your country, you just run in and bowl,” the pacer said.

“Your biggest motivation is playing for the nation. This has been your dream since childhood, so when you get the opportunity, you will want to grab it. I just enjoy the fact that I’m realising my dream of playing for India,” he added.

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Siraj also had words of praise for his Hyderabad teammates, many of whom are playing in the premier domestic tournament for the first time this season.

“The [Hyderabad] players have a great attitude. They are willing to give their lives for the team. This is only their first season; they will improve a lot going forward, learning how to play according to the situation,” the India fast bowler said.

Siraj picked up four wickets across the two innings in Nagpur and even entertained the crowd with a few lusty blows on the fourth morning, moments before the result was decided. However, the pacer expressed his frustration over some umpiring decisions at the end of the game.

“The performances from both sides were good, but the umpires had a big role to play,” the 30-year-old suggested.

“I understand they are human and capable of making mistakes, but getting six or seven decisions wrong in a single match is not acceptable,” he said.