India vs Australia: Why Hyderabad's Mohammad Siraj did not return for his father's last rites

Indian fast bowler Mohammad Siraj has revealed he did not return to India for his father's last rites because his mother asked him to stay back and fulfil his father's dream.

Siraj, who recently earned his maiden Test call-up, is in Australia along with the Indian national team and decided to stay back after his father passed away on Friday.

"It is a very big loss for me, my father always supported me. It was his dream that I keep on playing for India and make the country proud. I just want to fulfill my father's dream and that is why I keep on thinking that my father will always be there with me. In this situation, every team member has supported me and it really felt nice. Virat Bhai also told me not to worry and he asked me to stay strong. I talked to my mother and she told me to stay back in Australia and fulfill my father's dream," Siraj told BCCI.TV.

On Saturday, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had also praised Siraj and lauded the character shown by the Hyderabad-based player despite suffering from a personal loss.

Siraj, who has played one ODI and three T20Is for India, is yet to take a wicket in the 50-over format, but he has three wickets in T20Is.

The 26-year-old recently played the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), where he picked 11 wickets from nine matches in the 13th edition of IPL. for the Virat Kohli-led side. The Indian squad is currently in the middle of a 14-day quarantine period in Australia and all players have been training in Sydney amid the protocols set in to combat the coronavirus pandemic. India and Australia are set to play three ODIs, three T20Is, and four Tests. India's Down Under tour is set to kickstart on Nov. 27 with the opening ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).