Abba always wanted Siraj to play Test cricket for India. The stringent quarantine restrictions meant Siraj couldn’t return to India to be with his family to participate in his father’s final rites. “Stay strong for your father’s dream.” Those encouraging words from captain Virat Kohli helped him stay back in Australia with the Indian team. He fine-tuned his skills and it was because of him that he landed an IPL contract two years later, in 2017 for the Sunrisers Hyderabad,” Prasad chimes. Ismail hopes Siraj’s incisive spell on Day 1 is just the start of a long and fruitful international career.

Source: Indian Express December 26, 2020 13:41 UTC