"Yahi Duniya Gaali Degi": MS Dhoni's Brutal Reality Check That Transformed Mohammed Siraj's Career

Mohammed Siraj has revealed the invaluable advice he received from legendary former India captain MS Dhoni when he first joined the national team—words that helped him navigate the extreme highs and lows of international cricket and withstand brutal online trolling. Dhoni's blunt message provided the mental framework Siraj needed to rise above criticism and focus on what truly matters.

Dhoni's Powerful Warning

Speaking on the Indian Express Idea Exchange, Siraj recalled the exact moment Dhoni pulled him aside with advice that would become his mental armor against critics.

"I remember when I joined the India team, MS Dhoni had told me, 'Kisi ki baaton mein nahin aana. Jab tu acha karega, toh poori duniya tumhare saath rahegi, aur jab kharaab karega, yahi duniya tujhe gaali degi.' (Don't pay attention to what others say. When you are performing well, the entire world will be with you, and when you aren't, they will abuse you)."

This brutally honest assessment of cricket fandom captured a truth every professional athlete eventually learns: public opinion is fickle, conditional, and often cruel. Dhoni, having experienced this throughout his captaincy, wanted to prepare Siraj for the inevitable roller coaster.

The Cruel Reality of Trolling

Siraj's experience validated Dhoni's warning almost immediately. During his early IPL days with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, when performances didn't meet expectations, the trolling became vicious and deeply personal.

"When things didn't go my way during the IPL, I was trolled very badly. One day, fans say 'there's no bowler like Siraj,' and the next, if I don't perform, they say 'jaa ke apne baap ke saath auto chalao' (go ride the auto with your father). What's the point of this?"

The "jaao auto chalao" taunt was particularly painful because it weaponized his background—his late father Mohammed Ghouse's profession as an auto rickshaw driver—turning a story of sacrifice and dignity into an insult. This classist abuse revealed the ugliest side of cricket fandom.

From Hero to Zero in One Match

Siraj articulated the whiplash effect of public opinion that Dhoni had warned him about.

"In one match, you were the hero, and the next match you're zero? How can people change so fast?"

This question reflects the frustration every athlete feels when judged entirely on their most recent performance, with past achievements instantly forgotten after one bad game. The same fans who praised him as India's best bowler would mock his family background after a single poor outing.

The Mental Shift

Dhoni's advice crystallized into a clear mental strategy for Siraj: stop seeking validation from fickle external sources and focus exclusively on those whose opinions genuinely matter.

"I realized I don't need any outside opinions. What matters to me is what my family thinks and what my teammates think of me."

This shift—from seeking public approval to valuing only the perspectives of family and teammates who know him beyond his bowling figures—became Siraj's shield against the emotional toll of social media abuse. By creating clear boundaries around whose opinions carried weight, he protected his mental health while maintaining focus on performance.

Silencing Critics Through Performance

Siraj's response to trolls hasn't been through words but through devastating bowling performances. His 2025 England tour—23 wickets in five Tests—placed him alongside legends Kapil Dev and Jasprit Bumrah as only the third Indian pacer to claim 20-plus wickets in multiple Test series.

Most recently, he demolished West Indies with match figures of 7/71 (4/40 and 3/31) in the Ahmedabad Test, his best bowling figures on home soil. These performances provide the ultimate answer to critics: sustained excellence that cannot be denied.

The Wisdom of Experience

Dhoni's advice came from hard-earned experience leading India through intense scrutiny. As captain, he faced criticism for his batting approach, team selections, and tactical decisions—yet maintained remarkable composure throughout. By sharing this wisdom with a young Siraj, Dhoni was passing down perhaps the most valuable lesson for any professional athlete: external opinion is noise; internal standards and trusted relationships are what matter.