Mohammed Siraj hits back at troll over late father's job, Zanai Bhosale backs him up
Mohammed Siraj with his parents and brother.
New Delhi: Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj is preparing for the upcoming five-match Test series against England, beginning June 20. He will be a key member of the team, led by Shubman Gill, following recent career fluctuations.
Before a significant upcoming series, cricketer Siraj shared a poignant family photo on Instagram, depicting his family during difficult times. The image shows a younger Siraj with his mother, deceased father, and brother.
However, the sincerity of his accompanying message resonated most strongly with his followers.
'I am grateful every day to get a chance to represent India. Who would've thought, a son of an auto-driver playing for the Indian cricket team? Every time a kid comes up and says he also will play for India, I smile with pride. But there are also those who reduce it to an insult. Who say 'go back to driving autos like your dad' anytime I don't have a good match.'
'But my dad's work is not an insult, it's my strength. He taught me what hard work really means– keeping your head down and pushing on, no matter what anyone says. All those days walking home from a long day of practice taught me hunger. Every time people ignored me, I worked harder. Now I represent India because of years of effort. Yet it only takes a few words online to turn my journey into a stereotype,' he added.
'My cap/jersey is proof ki koi farak nahi padta whether you're the son of an auto driver or a software engineer, kamiyabi naam pata nahi puchti, sirf mehnat dekhti hai (My jersey is proof that it doesn't matter whether you're the son of an auto driver or a software engineer, success doesn't care about names, only hard work).'
A social media post has gained significant popularity, exceeding 1.3 million likes. Notable comments include one from Zanai Bhosle, Asha Bhosle's granddaughter and close friend of Siraj, who simply stated, 'Best family.'
Mohammed Siraj, a Hyderabad native born in 1994, hails from a humble Muslim family. His father, an auto-rickshaw driver, passed away in 2020, while his mother is a homemaker. Siraj continues to honor his father's legacy both in his personal life and cricketing career.
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