Mumbai, Feb 8 (NationPress) Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj shared how a late-night text from T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav transformed his peaceful break after the Ranji Trophy into an unexpected call-up for the World Cup, leading to a decisive performance against the USA on Saturday night.

Siraj had just completed leading Hyderabad in consecutive Ranji Trophy league matches and was looking forward to a brief respite after his team missed out on the knockouts. He had planned a trip to Madrid to enjoy a La Liga match between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, followed by quality family time during Ramzan before the IPL season commenced. However, everything changed with a message from Suryakumar.

“Miyan bag pack karke aaja” (pack your bags and come), Siraj recalled. “I told him not to joke around. He texted again, assuring me he was serious and that I needed to join the team.”

Without delay, Siraj packed his belongings and arrived in Mumbai at 3 am on the first day of the T20 World Cup. He spent the following hours analyzing the opponent, catching up on some rest, and getting ready for the challenge ahead. Upon waking, he found another message; he was set to play in India’s XI against the USA.

This unexpected call-up was remarkable, considering Siraj hadn't participated in a T20I since July 2024, shortly after India’s previous T20 World Cup victory. However, when he took the new ball with Arshdeep Singh, Siraj displayed no signs of rustiness. He claimed two wickets in his opening spell, leaving the USA at 13 for 3 and aiding India in clinching a 29-run win while defending 161 runs.

“The Almighty changed my fate in just 24 hours,” an emotional Siraj expressed at the post-match conference. “I was enjoying time with my family when Adrian [Le Roux] reached out to check on me. I replied, ‘don’t disturb me now, I’m relaxing after two four-day matches. I need a break.'

Siraj’s inclusion was also facilitated by unforeseen circumstances. He was brought in as a last-minute replacement for Harshit Rana, and with Jasprit Bumrah unwell and missing practice the day before the match, Siraj became the only pace option available to partner with Arshdeep if India wanted to field two fast bowlers.

On a surface with variable pace, Siraj adjusted swiftly after conceding a six off his second delivery. He found the ideal length outside off to dismiss Andries Gous, who drove the ball to point, before striking again with a back-of-a-length delivery to remove Saiteja Mukkamalla.

“Since I was coming here after the Ranji Trophy, I maintained a similar line and length,” Siraj explained. “I noticed that when we batted, the new ball wasn't coming onto the bat smoothly. My strategy was to bowl wicket-to-wicket, which proved effective and benefited the team. I’m thrilled that my execution led to those wickets.”

Despite being absent from the T20I setup for several months, Siraj stated that neither his mindset nor his preparation had altered.

“You need to be mentally prepared to compete in a World Cup,” he said. “As I approach my 10-year mark since debuting for India, I’ve been consistently with the team long enough to understand how to prepare for this format and what mindset to maintain. So before going to sleep, I reminded myself to stick to what has worked for me thus far, and that’s exactly what I did today.”

Such sudden call-ups aren't new for Siraj. In December, he was included in Hyderabad's Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy campaign despite a four-year absence from the tournament. On that occasion, he flew overnight to Kolkata and recorded figures of 4-0-15-1, helping restrict Uttar Pradesh to 127 and setting up a three-wicket victory.