India pacer replaces injured Harshit Rana after surprise call from Suryakumar Yadav
February 8, 2026: Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj had an unexpected twist in his plans after being named as a replacement for injured Harshit Rana in India’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad. Siraj, who was preparing to travel to Spain to watch a La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, revealed that captain Suryakumar Yadav personally informed him about the selection. Initially dismissing it as a joke, Siraj said he only believed the news after selector Pragyan Ojha called to confirm his inclusion.
Recalling the moment, Siraj said his Madrid tickets were already booked and he was looking forward to the football match and Ramzan when destiny intervened. “Surya bhai told me to pack my bags, but I thought he was joking,” Siraj said during the post-match presentation. “When Ojha bhai also called, I realised whatever the almighty has written cannot be changed.” The pacer described the sudden call-up as an emotional and thrilling experience.
Despite missing out on the initial World Cup squad, Siraj had been putting in hard yards in domestic cricket, recently playing two four-day matches. He admitted that he had mentally moved on from T20 World Cup plans, believing the team combination was already settled. “It felt like a dream when I was on the flight to Mumbai,” Siraj said, adding that he never expected a late comeback to the global stage after not featuring in T20Is leading up to the tournament.