Mohammed Siraj took three wickets against former franchise RCB, earns Player of the Match award in emotional comeback.
New Delhi, April 3, 2025
Mohammed Siraj returned to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in a grand comeback while playing for his former franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), donning the jersey of Gujarat Titans as he delivered a match-winning performance between the two sides. The 31-year-old pacer picked up three crucial wickets for just 19 runs, earning him the Player of the Match award in what was an emotional homecoming.
Having spent seven years with RCB from 2018 to 2024, Siraj uttered a few words to portray that his emotions really surfaced when he set his foot on the ground in a different hue. The anxiety, though, didn’t last for long, as he soon let it out through a fiery bowling display that set Gujarat Titans early on. His spell in the powerplay was particularly lethal, as he dismissed RCB’s top-order batters Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt, celebrating the two scalps with Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘siu’ celebration.
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“I was a bit emotional. I was here for seven years, and changing my jersey from red to blue was a big moment. Yes, I was nervous, but the moment I got the ball in my hand, it was full on,” said Siraj after the match.
His performance was a reminder of all those years when he was a key bowling asset for RCB. He could play for Bengaluru: He featured in 87 matches and took 83 wickets at an average of 31.45, with the best figures being 4/21. However, on their part, RCB chose not to retain the pace star, paving the way for his shifting to Gujarat Titans ahead of the mega auction before the 2025 IPL.
On his celebration style, Siraj shared: “It means I am standing right here; Also, Sui because, I am a Ronaldo fan, hence the celebration.”
Besides, the Hyderabad-born pacer used his time away from international cricket to perfect his game. Not in India’s Champions Trophy squad, he took the gap to tune in to skills and improve fitness standards.
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“I had been playing consistent matches, but I was working on my mistakes and also improving my fitness at the time of the break,” Siraj said.
At Gujarat Titans, Siraj has gained an important player in the way of mentoring under head coach Ashish Nehra and the company of veteran pacer Ishant Sharma.
Siraj also shared, “After being picked by Gujrat Titans, Ashu bhai (Nehra) tells me to do whatever I like and enjoy my bowling, which brings more confidence, and Ishu (Ishant) bhai guides me on the line and length to bowl.”
