India pacer Mohammed Siraj has revealed some of the harsh messages he has received from internet trolls.Siraj shone during India’s England tour in 2025, taking 23 wickets in five Tests. His match-winning performance at The Oval made him a fan favourite. Fans often admire how he always gives his 100% on the field.
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But Siraj said trolls can be unpredictable. “When you perform well, everyone supports you. Fans will say, ‘There isn’t a bowler like Siraj in the world!’” he said.
However, if the next match doesn’t go well, opinions change quickly. Siraj shared some criticism he has faced: “‘Areh yeh kaisa bowler hai, kidhar se uthake le aayein hain, jaao auto chalao’ ‘What kind of bowler is this? Where did they pick him from? Go and drive an auto.’”
He said it can be confusing to go from being a hero one day to a zero the next. “How can people change so fast?” Siraj asked.
He added that he doesn’t need outside opinions. “What matters to me is what my family thinks and what my teammates think of me,” he said.
Siraj’s journey began in Hyderabad. His late father was an auto rickshaw driver. Despite humble beginnings, Siraj has worked tirelessly to achieve success in cricket.
His performances in England earned praise from fans worldwide. By taking 23 wickets in that series, he joined Kapil Dev and Jasprit Bumrah in an elite group of Indian pacers who have taken 20 or more wickets in multiple Test series.
Currently, Siraj is ranked 15th in the ICC Test bowlers’ rankings. In October, he took seven wickets as India crushed West Indies by an innings and 140 runs in the first Test at Ahmedabad.