Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammed Siraj. (AP photo) MUMBAI: Mohammed Siraj returned to India’s T20I side, taking 3-29 in four overs as India beat USA by 29 runs in their opening match of the T20 World Cup 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday. Siraj came into the playing eleven after Indian Prime Minister Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out due to illness.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!The 31-year-old Hyderabad fast bowler was earlier called up to the squad after all-rounder Harshit Rana was ruled out of the T20 World Cup with a knee injury.
T20 World Cup: ‘God changed my destiny’ – Mohammed Siraj on feelings of happy return
Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav has informed Siraj that he wants to draft him as Rana’s replacement. Siraj said he initially thought his captain was joking before he was convinced he was serious. Narrating his T20I comeback, Siraj philosophically told reporters, “Two days ago, Surya bhai said, ‘Miaan pack your bags and come’. I told him, ‘Bhai, have fun because this is not happening.’ But he said, ‘I’m telling you the truth, I’m ready to go’. Then Ojha bhai (India coach) called me. Whatever the Almighty has written, no one can change it.’Before Saturday, Siraj last played for India in the format on July 30 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele. Siraj said he had planned to travel to Spain during a rare break from India’s domestic season before the start of the IPL. “The Real Madrid match is on the 15th and I went to watch it and then Ramzan, but whatever the almighty has written will happen.A football fan, Siraj still has the Cristiano Ronaldo wallpaper on his phone, which he had earlier shared on Day 5 of the Oval Test during the England tour. “The wallpaper is still the same,” he revealed during Saturday’s post-match press conference.Siraj was part of India’s 2024 T20 World Cup winning campaign in Barbados, but said he is not in India’s plans for that edition. After receiving the call-up, Siraj said he didn’t know he would be playing in the opening game. “I found out in the morning that I was playing, so I was a bit more excited because I only arrived yesterday (Friday). I wanted to stay calm and just think about how I could apply pressure and attack. Whatever I put my mind to, I was able to do,” he concluded.
