Mohammed Siraj shares emotional post after Indian team support staff confirms exit

India’s strength and conditioning coach, Soham Desai, officially confirmed his exit from the national team on Saturday, May 31. Desai’s departure comes after a significant reshuffling within the support staff following India’s underwhelming performance in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024–25. After announcing his going, India pacer Mohammed Siraj penned down an emotional letter.

Desai, who was a crucial member in Indian cricket's fitness revolution, joined during Ravi Shastri’s tenure as head coach. Desai served under multiple stints, including those under Rahul Dravid and, briefly, Gautam Gambhir. His consistent presence since 2021 has brought stability and high performance to the team’s physical conditioning unit. It was at the same time that Siraj went on to become a regular three-format player. In his farewell post on Instagram, Desai reflected on his journey with the team and thanked them for the honour of serving the nation.

"What an honour and privilege it’s been to serve Indian Cricket over the years. From day one, the vision was crystal clear — break mental barriers, chase global excellence, stay true to my values, never fear failure. Keep showing up, no matter what. Forever grateful to @ravishastriofficial and @virat.kohli for backing a 29-year-old coming onto the world stage with a dream. To #RahulDravid and @rohitsharma45 — What can I say? Your faith, support, and trust have shaped every step of this journey. Can’t thank you guys enough. A big shoutout to the physios, sports therapists, operations team, and team doc — I could only do what I did because of your relentless support. Thank you for always being there," he wrote.

Adrian le Roux front-runner for the role

Meanwhile, fast bowler Mohammed Siraj’s post spoke about the duo's relationship. He mentioned that Desai was more than a coach to the pacer and looked up to him as his brother and mentor. Notably, Desai played an important role in keeping Siraj fit and focused, especially during a period when he became an all-format player for India.

"It’s never easy to say goodbye to someone who’s been more than a coach, who’s been a guide, a mentor, a brother. This is not the end but see you later. Your impact will stay with me forever. Your absence will be felt in the dressing room, in the gym, and in every sprint we run," he said.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has yet to announce his replacement, although according to reports, Adrian le Roux, formerly associated with Team India and currently with Punjab Kings, is among the frontrunners to take up the role and might join the team for the upcoming England series.