Mohammed Siraj recalls criticism after poor performance in IPL 2019: Was asked to quit cricket and drive auto
India Today
India pacer Mohammed Siraj says he was asked to quit cricket and drive auto with his father after a poor 2019 IPL season, making him think that his career in the league was over before MS Dhoni's counsel came to his rescue.
India pacer Mohammed Siraj opened up about the criticism he faced after a poor IPL 2019 season, making him think that his career in the league was over before MS Dhoni's advice helped him revive. Siraj revealed that he was asked to 'quit cricket and drive auto' with his father after the 2019 IPL season, where he managed to take only seven wickets in nine matches with an economy rate of nearly 1.
Siraj's poor outing reflected his franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore's disastrous outing that season, as they lost six straight games at the start and finished at the bottom. His worst performance came against Kolkata Knight Riders when he was hit for five sixes and 36 runs in 2.2 overs, which included two beamers, forcing captain Virat Kohli to take him off bowling.
"When I bowled those two beamers against KKR, people said 'quit cricket and go back and drive autos with your father," Siraj told The RCB Podcast.
"There were so many such comments. And people don't see the struggle behind all this. But I remember when I first got selected how Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) told me to not listen to everything the people have to say about me.
"You do well today and they'll praise you and when you don't the same people will abuse you. So don't ever take it seriously."
"And yes, the same people who trolled me incessantly back then say 'you're the best bowler bhai'. So, I know. I don't want anybody's opinion. I'm the same Siraj I was back then.
The 27-year-old has since come a long way and is one of the three players retained by the franchise that is still eying its first-ever title in the lucrative league.
