Mohammed Siraj recalls father, gets emotional after becoming No. 1 ranked ICC ODI bowler

Mohammed Siraj shared an emotional post on Instagram on Wednesday.

On September 20th, the ICC released its latest rankings, and Mohammed Siraj has once again claimed the top spot as the No. 1 ranked bowler in the ICC ODI rankings. This achievement comes on the heels of his exceptional performance during the Asia Cup final.

While he had previously held the number 1 position in January, it briefly slipped from his grasp when Josh Hazlewood took over in March. However, after his outstanding display in the final, where he took an impressive 6 wickets and played a pivotal role in India's resounding victory, Siraj has surged back to the number 1 spot, climbing eight positions in the rankings.

In the midst of this noteworthy accomplishment, a widely circulated photo on social media captures Mohammed Siraj in a touching moment with his parents. He shared this picture on his Instagram story, showing his parents holding an image of him wearing the Indian cricket team jersey. In a heartfelt caption, he wrote, "I miss you, Dad."

It is noteworthy that Mohammed Siraj made his Test debut against Australia at the MCG in December 2020, just days after receiving the heartbreaking news of his father's demise.

A match to remember for Mohammed Siraj - Asia Cup 2023 final

Mohammed Siraj secured his maiden 5-wicket haul in ODI cricket, achieving it in a mere 2.4 overs. He became the fourth bowler in ODI history to take four wickets in a single over, joining the ranks of Chaminda Vaas, Mohammad Sami, and Adil Rashid. He also equaled Chaminda Vaas and Ali Khan for the fastest ODI 5-wicket haul, doing it in 16 balls. Siraj's six-wicket haul in the Asia Cup final is the fourth-best bowling performance by an Indian in ODIs, with Stuart Binny, Anil Kumble, and Jasprit Bumrah holding the top three spots.

Siraj will be next seen in action in India's three-match ODI series against Australia starting 22nd September.