Mohammed Siraj delivered a stirring performance at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, taking 3 wickets for just 19 runs against his former team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while representing Gujarat Titans. The 31-year-old pacer, who spent seven years with RCB from 2018 to 2024, marked his return to the venue in style, earning the Player of the Match award in his first outing in Titans’ blue instead of RCB’s iconic red.
Siraj’s impactful spell in the powerplay saw him dismiss Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt, celebrating his scalps with Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature ‘Siu’ celebration.
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During his tenure with RCB, Siraj played 87 matches, claiming 83 wickets at an average of 31.45, with a best bowling figure of 4/21. However, ahead of the 2025 mega auction, the franchise opted not to retain him.
Reflecting on his emotional return, Siraj said,
“I was a bit emotional. I was here for seven years, and now I’ve changed from red to blue. There was some nervousness, but once I had the ball in my hand, it was full-on.”
On his celebration, he kept it simple:
“I’m a Ronaldo fan, so that’s why the celebration.”
Siraj used his time away from the Champions Trophy squad to refine his skills and fitness.
“I had been playing consistently, but during the break, I corrected my mistakes and worked on my fitness,” he explained.
At Gujarat Titans, he has found valuable mentorship under head coach Ashish Nehra and veteran pacer Ishant Sharma.
“Once I was picked by Gujarat Titans, I spoke to Ashish Bhai. He tells me to enjoy my bowling, while Ishu (Ishant) Bhai advises me on my line and length. My mindset is to believe in myself—then the pitch doesn’t matter,” Siraj shared.
