For Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, the road to success hasn’t been easy. Known for his raw pace, aggression, and never-back-down attitude, Siraj has faced as much criticism as he has praise. But one piece of advice from MS Dhoni early in his career completely changed the way he looks at both — and it’s a lesson he carries with him every time he steps on the field.
Dhoni’s No-Nonsense Reality Check
Siraj still remembers the day he first joined the Indian dressing room. Among all the advice he received, one message from Dhoni stood out — not about bowling or technique, but about handling the pressure of public opinion.
“When I joined the India team, Mahi bhai told me, ‘Don’t pay attention to what people say,’” Siraj recalled. “When you perform well, the whole world will cheer for you. But when you don’t, yehi duniya tujhe gaali degi (this same world will abuse you).”
It was a simple message — yet a powerful one. And as Siraj would soon discover, it was absolutely true.
Living Dhoni’s Words: From Praise to Abuse Overnight
Siraj’s career since then has followed the exact script Dhoni warned him about. One day, he’s hailed as a hero. The next, he’s the target of online trolls. And the swing between the two can happen in the space of a single over.
“When you do well, people say, ‘There’s no bowler like Siraj.’ But if you fail the next day, they’ll tell you, ‘Arre, what kind of bowler is this? Go drive an auto with your father,’” he said. “You’re a hero in one match and a zero in the next.”
The abuse, at times, got so intense that Siraj admitted he no longer cared about the praise either. “I reached a point where I felt, I don’t want praise from you all,” he confessed.
Choosing What Really Matters
Eventually, Siraj decided to block out the noise — both good and bad. “I realised I don’t need outside validation,” he said. “What my family and teammates think of me is what truly matters. I don’t care about the rest.”
That mental shift has been key to his consistency and confidence — allowing him to bowl with freedom, no matter what’s being said outside the boundary ropes.
Stronger Than Ever
Siraj’s resilience has been on full display in recent tours. After a standout performance in England, he continued to deliver in the West Indies and now looks ahead to the Australia tour with renewed focus.
The trolls haven’t gone away — but thanks to Dhoni’s blunt wisdom, they no longer define him. Siraj’s story is now one of grit, growth, and a refusal to be swayed by the fickle nature of public opinion. And that, perhaps, is his biggest victory yet.
Catch every update on Cricket News, Match Predictions, Fantasy Tips, and Live Cricket Action—only on The Cricket Scores!
