'Yahi duniya tujhe gaali degi': Siraj addresses harsh 'go ride auto with your father' comments with vital Dhoni advice

Siraj addresses harsh 'go ride auto with your father' comments with vital Dhoni advice (PTI/AP Photos)

India pacer Mohammed Siraj has made a name for himself in the Indian cricket ecosystem with his lightning-fast pace and fierce demeanor. Despite this he has also been subjected to massive trolling on occasions when he has failed to meet expectations. In a recent interaction with The Indian Express on Idea Exchange, the pacer spoke about a piece of advice he received from India's legendary captain MS Dhoni on handling criticism when he first joined the national team.

“I remember when I joined the India team, MS Dhoni had told me, ‘Kisi ki baaton mein nahin aana. Jab tu acha karega, toh poori duniya tumhare saath rahegi, aur jab kharaab karega, yahi duniya tujhe gaali degi.’ (Don’t pay attention to what others say. When you are performing well, the entire world will be with you, and when you aren’t, they will abuse you)," said Siraj.

And true to Dhoni's remarks, Siraj has experienced both. At times, the bashing became extremely harsh to a point where Siraj in a previous interview remarked: "I don't want praise from all of you."

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Explaining the same while speaking with the national daily, Siraj said: “The trolling was bad. When you perform, the fans and the world will be with you and say ‘there is no bowler like Siraj’. In the next game, if you don’t perform, they will say, ‘Arre, what sort of bowler is this. Go and ride the auto with your father’, what’s the point of this? You are hero in one match and zero in another."

“People change that quickly? I decided that I don’t need outside opinion and validation. What my teammates and family think of me is important, people who matter. I don’t care what others think," he added.

After a clinical show in India's last trip to England, Siraj picked up from where he left and played his part in India's crushing victory against the West Indies in the first Test at Ahmedabad on Saturday.