Mohammed Siraj credits Dhoni’s advice for staying calm under pressure

HYDERABAD: India pacer Mohammed Siraj said advice from former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni continues to shape his approach to cricket and life. Reflecting on the recent five-Test series against England, Siraj said Dhoni’s words about handling praise and criticism helped him stay mentally strong.

“Dhoni once told me — when you play for India, never care about what people outside say. When you perform well, everyone will praise you. When you fail, the same people will abuse you,” Siraj said. “That’s exactly what happens. His words always stay with me.”

‘I learnt not to care about outsiders’ opinions’

Siraj, who emerged as the highest wicket-taker of the England series with 23 wickets, said he often faced online trolling about his humble background. “My father drove an auto. When I bowl well, people say there’s no one like Siraj. But if I fail once, they say go drive an auto with your father. That’s when I decided not to care about outsiders’ opinions,” he said.

The Hyderabad pacer added that he had set a goal before the England tour to finish as the top wicket-taker and was proud of achieving it. “Mentally, I was very strong throughout the tour. I wanted to stay fully fit and play all five Tests,” he said.

‘Felt like a script written by God’

Recalling the final day of the last Test, Siraj said the moment felt “divinely scripted.” “When I woke up that morning, I felt the match would end within an hour and that I would win it for India. Everything went exactly as I had imagined,” he said.

Siraj also spoke about his experiences at Lord’s and the Oval, adding that the England series would remain one of the most memorable of his career.