Gujarat Titans pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered a match-winning spell for India against the USA in the T20 World Cup opener, prompting humorous praise from former Indian cricketer Subramaniam Badrinath regarding his sudden inclusion.
Siraj was called up to the squad at the last minute to replace the injured Harshit Rana and was immediately thrust into the playing XI after Jasprit Bumrah fell ill. Badrinath joked that Siraj had been enjoying 'Hyderabad biryani' just two days before his call-up, emphasizing the pacer's impressive ability to perform instantly despite the lack of preparation time. Siraj finished with excellent figures of 3/29 from his four overs, striking early to remove both USA openers and setting the tone for India's successful defense.
His decisive spell ensured India secured a 29-run victory, proving his value as a reliable option even when brought in unexpectedly. Siraj's immediate impact highlights the depth of talent available, a positive sign for the Indian team as they progress in the tournament.
This analysis was generated by Third Umpire using official IPL statistics and live match data.
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“Mohammed Siraj bowled brilliantly. He was eating biryani in Hyderabad only two days back. But despite being suddenly called up for a World Cup game, he bowled very well.”
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Two days Surya bhai said:"Miaan bags pack kaar aur aaja (Pack your bags and come (to Mumbai)). I told him "Bhai mazaak maat karo kyon ki yeh to honewala hain nahi (Brother please don't joke as this won't happen). But he said ‘mai sach keh raha hoon, ready ho ja’ (I am telling you the truth, get ready).
Unfortunately Bumrah is not well so Siraj is playing.
"Team India pacer Harshit Rana has been ruled out of the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after sustaining a knee injury during the warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai on February 4th 2026."

“Mohammed Siraj bowled brilliantly. He was eating biryani in Hyderabad only two days back. But despite being suddenly called up for a World Cup game, he bowled very well.”