The 1985 Indian cricket team made their mark in sports history when they won the World Championship of Cricket, cementing themselves as arguably the greatest Indian team of all time. Fast forward 25 years and MS Dhoni steered India to the top with his 2011 World Cup win, a victory that fulfilled dreams for billions around the nation. It was an especially sensory moment for India following its tumultuous end at 2007 World Cup. Dhoni led a remarkable team transformation from that low point by first winning a T20 championship in 2007 with a talented young unit, paving the path for another momentous victory. With both experience and youth making up its roster, this was one powerful group of individuals and it certainly felt like destiny that this team would become world champions.
The iconic duo of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri have revolutionized cricket in India since taking over. Under their leadership, the “Men in Blue” have been virtually unbeatable on home soil, while also pushing the boundaries to become one of the best touring teams in the world. Going beyond huge victories at home, Team India has secured back-to-back Test wins in Australia and drawn the series against a formidable English side. They continued to delight fans internationally by reaching the finals of the inaugural World Test Championship. It’s safe to say that this dynamic duo changed the landscape of Indian cricket irreversibly for generations to come.
Under the watchful eye of the experienced duo of Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri, Team India has been a force to be reckoned with over the past years. Some of their most stunning comebacks have shown us glimpses of Australian dominance in early 2000s. This period has seen a young brigade come up on the forefront and make an immediate impact through their sheer determination – from Rishabh Pant to Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Shubman Gill and many more. Not to forget the deft touches by coaching staff such as Bharat Arun, Sanjay Bangar, R Sridhar – these names have made this era extremely special for Indian cricket fans in remembering how each and every individual played a role in making Team India stand tall amongst all other teams.
Arun’s contributions to India’s bowling attack cannot be overstated, especially when it comes to his guidance of young pacers like Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. When Arun first saw then-Hyderabad fast bowler Siraj in action, he knew the talent was there but felt he needed more time to develop before being ready for the international arena. This advice proved invaluable as Siraj went on to have a breakthrough season for Hyderabad the following season and realized his dreams of making an impact at the national level. Even after being selected, Arun remained a support system, inspiring him with his words of wisdom as well as providing technical input that helped Siraj groove his temperament in tune with modern tactics and ever changing cricket dynamics.
It’s a story that epitomizes the ambitious spirit of youth and the unwavering faith in ones capacities: Arun recounts how Mohammed Siraj, soon after having done well for Hyderabad in 2017, took it upon himself to call him up and ask about his chances with the Indian team. It is truly a remarkable journey for Siraj who had to impress in India A tour before he was finally chosen as part of Team India. Such tales bring out many unresolved questions about talent, hardwork and dedicated perseverance, questions which keep coming back no matter where you are from. While it may be easier said than done, such stories serve as valuable reminders of what can be achieved when one is backed by the conviction of forging their own path towards success.
When Abdul Siraj burst onto the scene with his impressive performances for India A, he drew the attention of both coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun. In 2017, Siraj made his India debut but began to oscillate in and out of the team due to concerns over his economy rate. Notwithstanding this, Arun remembered how driven and confident young Siraj was in those early days and greatly admired the passion behind that hunger for success. The rest is history- fast forward to 2020 when Siraj made his test debut and solidified his place in an all-star Indian team. It’s a fantastic success story, one that Arun recalls fondly to this day.
Mohammed Siraj’s strength as a cricketer was evident not only in his performances, but also in his unwavering self-belief. His talent shone through when he went to bowl for India A, and it wasn’t long before Coach Ravi Shastri took notice. His determination was obvious when he personally called Arun with the intention of finding out when his time for selection to join the national squad would come. Ravi praised the young cricketer for such confidence, something which was essential in order to make it big at the highest level of sport. Such bravado is what sets people like Siraj apart from the rest and it is clear that he has already made a good impression on one of the most senior members of Indian cricketing staff.
