Here is the full transcript of Mohammed Siraj’s India vs USA post-match press conference in Mumbai.
(Reporter:)
If you can talk to us about the last 24 hours – what was it like for you coming back to the T20 setup after 19 months and then taking three wickets? Just last 24 hours and represent India again in T20s.
(Mohammed Siraj:)
It was hard. First of all, the last 24 hours sitting on the plane felt like a dream. Because I never thought I would play in the World Cup. Last year, it was planned that all the World Cup players would get a chance in T20. But when I didn’t play in T20s, I understood that I won’t be a part of it this year.
But God changed my destiny. I was spending time with my family and the day before I got a text from Adrian asking me about my plans for the next few days. I said don’t message me now – I’m resting because I’m playing two four-day games. I need to rest and then we will see the plan.
Then suddenly Surya bhai called me. He said get ready, pack your bag and come. I said Surya bhai don’t joke because this is not going to happen. He said: I tell you the truth – get ready. As soon as he hung up, Oja called me. Then suddenly I received a shocking news. No one can change what God has written. I came, played a match – everything was written. God is great. No one can do anything beyond that.
(Reporter:)
Siraj everything happened suddenly but you were ready. You have played so much cricket – domestic, four-day, ODI, T20. When you play an international match, I am not saying that you need preparation because you are prepared from within. But mentally, were you emotionally charged when you got the chance? Did you feel you had to do something?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
Obviously there are emotions. For players, playing in the World Cup is another dream. So I just bowled the same line and length that I bowled in the Ranji Trophy. When we were batting, I felt that the new ball was not so easy to hit. So my plan was to stick to the new ball, bowl wicket to wicket and if I can get a wicket there it would help the team a lot.
That was the plan, I executed it and got wickets too. So I’m very happy.
(Reporter:)
I have two small questions. First you showed Ronaldo’s wallpaper on the oval – do you still have it? And secondly, how mentally demanding is it to get a sudden call-up to the World Cup? What was going through your mind – not just in the last 24 hours, but after you joined the team, even last night before you went to bed?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
Yes, the wallpaper is still there. When you play in the World Cup, you have to be mentally prepared. I have been playing for India for almost 10 years now, so when you get an opportunity, you know how to prepare.
If a youngster gets an opportunity, he has to think about many things. But since I’ve been around the team, I know how to prepare in this format and how to set my mindset. Even as I slept last night, I thought I would stick to the same weapon that had brought me success so far. And I have the same success today.
(Reporter:)
Siraj, how was the break discussion? How did you plan to defend 160? And at what stage in the dressing room were you sure you had crossed the safety line?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
As Ishan bowled the new ball, he said it was a two-paced wicket. We discussed it afterwards and felt that 170 would be a very good score as there was not much dew. So we believed that even 160-170 was competitive.
The plan was to take as many goals as possible in the power play and put pressure on the opponent. That was the only plan. The execution was very good, especially by Arshdeep. He bowled three overs which created a lot of pressure and that’s why we got this result.
(Reporter:)
What was the dressing room like when wickets fell early and the team was 70 for 6? Were you worried or did you always believe in yourself?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
No, it was quiet. Surya was batting at the other end so it was very quiet in the dressing room. He knows this wicket very well as he is a Mumbai player. He was very calm and said, “I’m here, we’ll keep going. Don’t worry.”
(Reporter:)
Your bowling was very good. You played the Ranji Trophy and even managed the Hyderabad team. Then you went back to white ball cricket. You might have thought you’d get a chance after a few matches, especially with concerns about Jassi bhai’s fitness. But you got your chance in the first match itself. What were your thoughts during this transition?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
Sir, I didn’t know I was going to play before. I was happy to be back in the team. But when I got the news that I was playing, I was more excited. I arrived yesterday and played a match today so I was very excited.
While playing the Ranji Trophy as a captain, I thought about my role and the needs of the team. Even today I was thinking about my bowling – how to put pressure on the opponent, where to attack, whether to play defensively or aggressively. Everything I had in mind and whatever I planned was done.
(Reporter:)
Yesterday, Surya said that against teams you haven’t played much, you should look at the video analysis. But you didn’t have much time. Did you just trust your instincts?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
No, no. I obviously watched the videos. I saw them around three o’clock. You cannot enter such a big tournament without video analysis and preparation. It’s the World Cup.
(Reporter:)
Siraj, when you throw Surya in the net, does he play shots like that – kicks, wheel shots and so on? How competitive is it to pounce on him?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
Surya plays on instinct. He reads the field and plays accordingly. As you saw when two fielders were inside, he bowled a wide yorker because square leg and fine leg were inside. His mind works by field. It’s hard to bluff him because he often succeeds. As a pitcher, you have to trust your own plans. But hats off to him for that shift. Even after losing so many early wickets, he remained calm. This isn’t a bilateral series – it’s a World Cup. It is very difficult to play such an innings at such a big event.
(Reporter:)
You’ve been out of the T20 team for a long time, but you know the team’s fearless, high-risk, high-reward approach. Today, at 75 for 6, Sky in particular did not change that approach. Someone took it deep. How did it feel to be a part of that atmosphere?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
Obviously, when you manage to play this kind of cricket for a long time, there is no need to change it. We have been successful with this approach.
I sat in the dressing room and watched such fearless cricket. Even after losing six wickets, there was no panic. It was very peaceful. Everyone felt that we were going to win this game – and we did. I am very happy to be a part of this dressing room.
(Reporter:)
My question is about Abhishek Sharma. He didn’t field today and Sanju Samson started all the time. Is everything okay?
(Mohammed Siraj:)
Everything is fine. His stomach was a little tight, so he didn’t go out on the field. In the next match, he will come back and show his magic with the bat.
(Reporter:)
Siraj bhai you told us about last 36-48 hours. But what was your plan for February? You had a little break in your schedule. what did you plan
(Mohammed Siraj:)
Sir, I planned that on the 15th there will be a Real Madrid match and I will watch it. Ramzan was to come after that so I had it planned. But whatever God has written will come to pass.
