How Siraj cancelled plans to watch Real Madrid after shock T20 World Cup call-up

T20 World Cup: Mohammed Siraj had Real Madrid tickets booked for February 15th. Then came Suryakumar Yadav's call 24 hours before the World Cup opener. The pacer delivered three wickets on his dramatic return.

Mohammed Siraj had his February mapped out perfectly. A Real Madrid match on the 15th at the Santiago Bernabeu, followed by preparations for Ramzan with his family. After leading Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy, the pacer had earned some rest. The T20 World Cup seemed like a distant dream—one that belonged to someone else's destiny.

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But destiny, as Siraj would soon discover, had other plans. In the space of 24 hours, everything changed. The Bernabeu would have to wait. India was calling.

Just a day before India's T20 World Cup opener against the USA, Siraj was at home in Hyderabad, miles away from any World Cup dream. For the past 18 months, he had watched from the sidelines as India groomed their T20 squad for the tournament. When he wasn't selected for the bilateral T20 series, the message seemed clear—this World Cup wasn't meant for him.

"I never thought I would play in the World Cup," Siraj admitted candidly at the pre-match press conference. "When I didn't play in T20s, I understood that I wouldn't be part of it this year."

Then came the messages. First, from Adrian le Roux, India's support staff, asking about his plans. Siraj's response was blunt: "Don't message me right now—I'm resting because I'm playing two four-day games."