Mohammed Siraj had his February perfectly mapped out. Real Madrid match on 15th at Santiago Bernabeu followed by Ramzan preparations with family. After leading Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy, the pacer deserved a rest. The T20 World Cup seemed like a distant dream – one that belonged to someone else’s destiny.
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But fate, as Siraj soon discovered, had other plans. Within 24 hours everything changed. The Bernabeu will have to wait. India was calling.
Bernabeu to Wankhede in 24 hours
Just a day before the start of India’s T20 World Cup against USA, Siraj was at home Hyderabad, miles away from the World Cup dream. He has spent the last 18 months watching from the sidelines as India prepares its T20 team for the tournament. When he was not selected for the bilateral T20 series, the message seemed clear – this World Cup was not meant for him.
“I never thought I would play in the World Cup,” Siraj openly admitted at the pre-match press conference. “When I didn’t play in the T20s, I understood that I won’t be a part of it this year.
Then came the news. First from Adrian le Roux, the Indian support staff, who asked him about his plans. Siraj’s reply was straightforward: “Don’t write to me now — I’m resting because I’m playing two four-day games.”
But fate intervened when Harshit Rana injured his knee during India’s warm-up match against South Africa. Needing a quick replacement, the selectors turned to a familiar face – someone who had already been part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup-winning campaign. What happened next changed Siraj’s entire February calendar.
“Surya bhai don’t joke”
A few minutes later his phone rang. Captain Suryakumar Yadav was on the line.
“Get ready, pack your bag and come,” Surya told him.
Siraj’s first instinct? Disbelief. “Surya bhai, don’t joke because this is not going to happen,” he repliedconvinced that his captain was pulling his leg.
But Surya wasn’t kidding. Before Siraj could process the conversation, another call came in — this time from team management. The shocking news was confirmed. He flew to Mumbai. The Real Madrid match, family time, Ramzan preparations – all this will have to be rescheduled.
“My plan was that there would be a Real Madrid game on the 15th and I would watch it,” Siraj revealed. “But whatever God has written will come to pass.
From flight to combat mode
Twenty-four hours is hardly enough time to turn a domestic cricket captain into a World Cup warrior, but Siraj had decades of international experience to fall back on. As he sat on the plane to Mumbai – headed for the Wankhede instead of the Bernabeu – the surreal nature of it all hit him.
“When I was sitting on the plane, it felt like a dream,” he said.
But dreams require execution and Siraj knew exactly what he had to do. There was no time for elaborate preparations or tactical reworkings. His approach was simple: trust what worked.
“I just bowled the same line and length that I bowled in the Ranji Trophy,” explained Siraj. “My plan was to stick to the new ball, bowl wicket after wicket and if I could get a wicket there it would help the team a lot.
Delivery when it mattered
The plan worked out to perfection. Siraj’s three-wicket haul against the USA was crucial in India’s opening victory that vindicated the faith of the selectors and confirmed his own belief in his methods. Even the night before the game, as he struggled to sleep in an unfamiliar environment, his thinking remained clear.
“I just thought I would stick with the same weapon that has brought me success so far,” he said. “And I had the same success today.
What made the performance even more remarkable was the context. India slumped to 77 for 6 before captain Suryakumar Yadav’s heroic 84 not out dragged them to a competitive 161 for 9. Siraj’s early wickets with the new ball then set the tone for India’s defense and helped secure a crucial World Cup win.
God changed my destiny
For a man who never expected to be a part of this World Cup, Mohammed Siraj’s journey from family time to a flight that felt like a dream perfectly captures the beautiful unpredictability of cricket.
“No one can change what God has written,” Siraj mused, his voice carrying the weight of someone still processing his fortune. “I came, I played a match – everything was written.
Real Madrid’s loss was India’s gain. And while the Bernabeu will be there for another day, this World Cup moment – arriving 24 hours before kick-off and arriving when it mattered most – will stay with Siraj forever.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 8, 2026
