Paceman Mohammed Siraj feared his humble roots as the son of an auto-rickshaw driver would shatter his dreams of playing at the World Cup.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
On Saturday, however, the 29-year-old fast bowler played a crucial role in India's seven-wicket rout of arch-rivals Pakistan at Ahmedabad's 132,000-seater ground, the world's biggest cricket arena.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He dismissed opener Abdullah Shafique lbw for 20 and later claimed the prize wicket of Pakistan captain Babar Azam who had made 50.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
From 155-2, Pakistan collapsed to 191 all out in 42.5 overs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"To be honest I never thought that I would play a World Cup because I have come from so low (background)," Hyderabad native Siraj told reporters.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siraj, whose rickshaw-driving father died in 2020, rose from his humble beginnings to play in the cash-soaked Indian Premier League.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He made his ODI debut in 2019 and Test bow the following year.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Now I am playing so it is a matter of achievement for me. India and Pakistan are known for their high intensity and high-pressure games and today I saw that and I felt good."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siraj went wicketless for 76 runs in India's previous win over Afghanistan but came roaring back on Saturday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He insisted his previous performance did not affect his mindset coming into the key clash.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Everyone has an off day. The graph can come down sometimes and one bad day doesn't make me a bad performer," said Siraj, who singled out Shafique's wicket as being a planned strike.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"So I keep my confidence up with the fact that I am bowling well. This confidence helps me in my bowling and I have backed myself to do that and got the result today."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siraj was ably supported by the rest of the bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya also taking two wickets each.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Our bowling unit is doing so well, it's not that just one bowler is performing," said Siraj.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"Everyone is putting up his hand even if someone is not getting a wicket then he is building pressure and bowling a dot ball. All this will help the team succeed."<\/p>\r\n\r\n
India remain favourites to win the tournament after they registered their third win in as many matches to lead the 10-team table.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"This is a World Cup match, and every match is very important for us, not just an India-Pakistan match," said Siraj.<\/p>\r\n\r\n