‘Seriously? I got a price of INR 2.6 crore?!’– Mohammed Siraj reveals interesting anecdote when SRH signed him in 2017

Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Mohammed Siraj revealed a stirring anecdote when Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) acquired his services for a whopping INR 2.60 crore in the 2017 IPL auction.

Coming from a humble economic background, Siraj stated that he was in disbelief when he was roped in for a humongous fee in the auction. However, the pacer recalled that he was unable to control his excitement after RCB first raised the paddle as no franchise was ready to buy him initially.

“My name came up in the auction. No one raised their paddle for ten seconds, and then I thought to myself ‘It’s over, forget it.’ Suddenly RCB raised the paddle and just with that I left the house with the happiness of being selected in the IPL,” Siraj told in an interview on ‘Breakfast with Champions’.

“After that, when the media asked me ‘You got selected for INR 2.6 crore, how happy are you?’, I looked all around and then asked ‘Seriously? I got a price of INR 2.6 crore?!’. All I wanted was to get selected and did not bother which team but was thankful that I got selected,” he added.

It's you first match, enjoy it: Yuvraj Singh to Siraj on IPL debut

The pacer made his debut in the top-tier league during a match against Delhi Daredevils (now Capitals) on April 19, 2017. Siraj further stated that he was overwhelmed by the ambience at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, despite getting the prized scalps of Sanju Samson and Sam Billings.  

Siraj returned bowling figures of 2/39 in his four overs at an economy of 9.75. The pacer further added that it was his former teammate, Yuvraj Singh, who calmed him down and asked him to enjoy his debut match.

“In my first match, I dismissed Sanju (Samson) and Sam Billings. However, I did give around 40-odd runs. I was playing for the first time in front of a packed ground, I cannot forget that even now. The nervousness and pressure that is often talked about, I felt it on that day,” he told.

“Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh) pa was there near point, and he kept telling me ‘Don’t worry, it’s okay if they hit a four. It’s your first match, so enjoy,” shared Siraj.