India bowler Mohammed Siraj revealed how a phone call with his mother and the memory of his late father spurred him on to a five-wicket haul in the final Test against Australia on Monday.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Siraj, playing only his third Test, ably deputized for the injured Jasprit Bumrah in Brisbane, where India needs a draw to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the series locked at 1-1.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
It has been an emotional series for the 26-year-old, who lost his father in November and welled up with tears during the national anthems in Sydney.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
"I am very thankful that I got five wickets. It was a very tough situation for me because I lost my dad recently<\/strong>," said Siraj.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "I called up home and I felt strong after talking to them and to my mother. She motivated me to feel strong. <\/p>\r\n\r\n "So I was mentally strong and my focus was to make sure my dad's dream comes true.<\/strong>"<\/p>\r\n\r\n Siraj's father, an auto-rickshaw driver from the southern city of Hyderabad, died on November 20 as India prepared for the start of their tour.<\/p>\r\n\r\n But the bowler, who also plays for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League, stayed in the team's secure bubble despite an offer to fly home.<\/p>\r\n\r\n His five-for helped India bowl Australia out for 294, setting the injury-ravaged visitors the improbable task of scoring 328 for victory or batting out the final day for a vital draw, as they did in Sydney.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Our batsmen are good, they are prepared for (Tuesday). We will only know tomorrow how it goes,<\/strong>" said Siraj.<\/p>\r\n\r\n "Our only motive is to win the series. Despite so many injuries, the way the team fought in the first innings is a matter of pride<\/strong>."<\/p>\r\n",
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