Mohammed Siraj, India’s fast bowler, has opened up a restaurant, becoming a part of the restaurant industry. The restaurant, Joharfa, is located in his hometown of Hyderabad, in the posh area of Banjara Hills.
This is Mohammed Siraj’s first plunge into the world of food and beverage and he joins the likes of Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh, who like other cricketers have also entered the restaurant space.
Siraj’s establishment is local and deep-rooted with personal meaning to him since he launched the restaurant with his brother. He indicated that it was a cause very close to his heart and a way to return something to the city that ‘gave’ him for his identity. The concept is to create space where friends and family can gather, eat, and enjoy familiar flavors.
A Rich Taste of Mohammed Siraj Restaurant’s with Tradition
Joharfa is intended to have food for every food lover. The restaurant has adopted a broader menu with a cuisine that is reflected range from Mughlai, Persian, Arabian, Chinese etc. as indicated by Mohammed Siraj, as well as food that has a local flavor that he called ‘Miya Bhai’ style.
The goal is to use fresh, high-quality ingredients made with traditional preparation methods and cooked by a group of chefs with expertise.
The restaurant itself is well-designed, and the photos reveal luxurious modern comfort in the venue, which intends to provide a premium dining experience. Joharfa is in Banjara Hills on Road No 3, a busy and central area of Hyderabad.
A Star-studded Path
Siraj is the latest cricketer to make the transition from cricketing celebrity to food-business entrepreneur. The food-business success of cricketers we have previously witnessed has been ground-breaking and also includes some of the biggest names in Indian cricket as successful food-business operators.
For example, Virat Kohli has created his own restaurant chain called One8 Commune, and he has opened restaurants in Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata, and other main cities.
He has even opened a South American eatery in Delhi. At his One8 Commune restaurants, he has a menu offering a ‘Virat’s Favourites’ section, and he provides healthy items for customers including Mushroom Googly Dim Sum and Superfood Salad.
Yuvraj Singh also recently opened his own restaurant called ‘Koca’. His restaurant operates without any restrictions on different styles of food offerings, so his menu includes many vegetarian and vegan options. Some unique items on the menu include Mushroom Pasta, Japanese-style Kadhi Chawal, and Mushroom Bao.
Cricketers’ Culinary Legacy
The connection between cricketers and restaurants is not brand new. There have been several illustrious players who have attempted the same for many years. None of the greats were as early as Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.
Zaheer Khan got into the business in 2005, in Pune, when he opened Dine Fine; he later opened Toss Sports Lounge.
Kapil Dev opened a cricket-centric restaurant, Elevens in Patna, in 2008.
Ravindra Jadeja owns and operates Jaddu’s Food Field, a multi-cuisine vegetarian restaurant in Rajkot, that he opened in 2012.
Suresh Raina took Indian flavours overseas with the Raina Indian Restaurant in Amsterdam in 2023.
Beyond the Boundary: Engagement in New Ways
Athletes building businesses outside of their sport is an established avenue for athletes to connect with fans and diversify their ongoing livelihoods. While physical ventures such as restaurants provide a tangible experience, many women and men also engage with fans through digital avenues.
Many fans want to interact with sports more directly and there are also online gaming sites, such as Cricmatch, where fans can exchange sports avidity for casino gaming.
These digital environments are an alternative kind of fan interaction, and other sites like Cricmatch360 also offer sports betting information and services to sports consumers. These sites are examples of how athletes and the sports world are thinking differently about connecting with their participants, outside of the conventions of the field.
From the Pitch to the Plate
Siraj’s new company is coming around the crest of his professional career. Siraj began playing professionally in 2015 in Hyderabad, and became a professional player in domestic competition, gaining notoriety like many other IPL players and eventually earning an contract from IPL with Sunrisers Hyderabad and later Royal Challengers Bangalore where he established himself as a critical bowler.
Siraj made his international debut for India in 2017 and became a consistent present in all formats of the game. Siraj’s success has transitioned to financial success as well. He has a Grade A contract with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) worth Rs 5 crores per year and in the 2025 IPL season, Gujarat Titans purchased him for Rs 12.25 crores. With that wealth available, he is now in a position to seek out opportunities like Joharfa, and initiate a new chapter in his home city.
Frequently Asked Questions :
1) What is the name of Mohammed Siraj’s new restaurant and where is it located?
The name of Mohammed Siraj’s new restaurant is Joharfa. It is a high-end restaurant located in Banjara Hills, which is in his hometown of Hyderabad.
2) What cuisine does Joharfa serve?
Joharfa has a very diverse menu that offers Mughlai, Persian, Arabian, and Chinese foods. The foods have a local preparation style that Siraj identified as a ‘Miya Bhai’ style.
3) Which Indian cricketers have restaurants?
There are several Indian cricketers who have opened their own restaurants. Some of the most notable ones are, Virat Kohli (One8 Commune), Yuvraj Singh (Koca), Zaheer Khan (Dine Fine, Toss Sports Lounge), Ravindra Jadeja (Jaddu’s Food Field), and Suresh Raina (Raina Indian Restaurant in Amsterdam).
4) Why did Mohammed Siraj open a restaurant?
Mohammed Siraj described the new restaurant as a passion project that is very special to him. He opened Joharfa with his brother, partially, as a way to give back to Hyderabad, the city that he refers to as giving him his identity.