A recent image has gone viral on social media which shows India pacer Mohammed Siraj performing prayers during the 2nd ODI match between India and New Zealand.
Social media erupted with viral photos claiming to capture Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj performing namaz prayers directly on the pitch at Saurashtra Cricket Stadium in Rajkot.
The images showed Siraj in prayer posture, surrounded by teammates Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Gautam Gambhir (head coach), and Shreyas Iyer, who appeared to watch reverently or snap photos on their phones.
Captions glorified the moment with phrases like "Faith and strength converge. cricket yields to spirituality," tying it to the buildup for the second ODI against New Zealand on January 14, 2026.
Fact Check: Was Mohammed Siraj performing Namaz?
Performing Namaz
in the ground is not an offence. People with their religious beliefs can have their prayers, but Siraj was not performing a Namaz with the senior Indian pros taking a snap of him doing it.
MyKhel can confirm that the images as false, confirming they were AI-generated. AI detection tools like HIVE Moderation gave 96-99.9% probabilities of generative AI creation, citing unnatural proportions, inconsistent lighting, and digital artefacts.
Jasprit Bumrah stands visibly in one photo's background, but he was not selected for India's ODI squad against New Zealand. Team jerseys prominently feature the defunct BYJU'S sponsor logo; Apollo Tyres replaced it as BCCI's lead sponsor from September 2025 through 2028.
No BCCI statements, ESPNcricinfo match reports, or player comments mention such an event during the Rajkot ODI, where New Zealand chased 285 for a seven-wicket win.
Siraj delivered an economical 0-41 from nine overs in the match but later owned a crucial dropped catch of Mitchell before the third ODI in Indore. New Zealand clinched the three-match ODI series 2-1, followed by a T20I series. This case exemplifies AI-driven misinformation exploiting sports for emotional narratives-always cross-check with official sources.
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