It was a poignant moment for Mohammed Siraj as he prepared to bowl the opening over in the IPL 2025 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans. Over the years, he has enjoyed the support of the enthusiastic Chinnaswamy crowd and the formidable presence of Virat Kohli, who has always encouraged him from the inner circle. However, on April 2 (Wednesday), he faced not only the passionate and occasionally daunting Chinnaswamy audience but also Kohli himself.

As Siraj sprinted towards the crease, he suddenly halted mid-run. This is not an uncommon occurrence for fast bowlers, who sometimes have to abandon their run-up. Yet, given the significance of the moment and the emotions surrounding Siraj, many on the internet speculated that he might struggle to deliver the first ball to Kohli, especially since he was competing against RCB in Bengaluru. Siraj himself subtly acknowledged this sentiment after the match.

"It was emotional because I played for seven years here (for RCB). There was some nervousness and some emotion, but once I had the ball in my hand, I was fully focused," he remarked.

Nevertheless, there were no indications that Siraj ever found his rhythm. After being omitted from the Champions Trophy squad, Siraj appeared determined to demonstrate his worth to both the national selectors and the RCB management, achieving figures of 3-19.

Following his release from RCB after the previous season, Siraj was acquired by Gujarat for $1.4 million during the November auction.

This season, Siraj has begun to validate his price tag, claiming five wickets in three matches while showcasing both speed and precision. He nearly secured a wicket in his opening over, but Jos Buttler dropped a straightforward catch off Phil Salt. Undeterred by this setback, Siraj dismissed Devdutt Padikkal in his subsequent over.

In his third over during the powerplay, despite conceding a massive six to Salt, Siraj quickly rebounded by bowling out the RCB wicketkeeper with the very next delivery. Later in the innings, he also dismissed RCB's leading scorer, Liam Livingstone, who made 54 runs.

Siraj attributed his renewed confidence to GT head coach Ashish Nehra. 

"I was playing matches regularly, which made it difficult for me to recognize my mistakes. During the break, I concentrated on my bowling and fitness, and when I joined GT, I had a conversation with Ashu bhai (Ashish Nehra). Now, the ball is coming out well. He encouraged me to enjoy the game and play freely."

In addition to Coach Nehra, Siraj benefits from the extensive experience within the GT camp, often engaging in discussions with teammates Ishant Sharma and Kagiso Rabada.

"I communicate with them (Rabada, Ishant, and other bowling partners) to gain valuable feedback. As a bowler, maintaining self-belief is crucial; without it, panic can set in when you are hit. I have confidence in my abilities, regardless of where I am playing, and that is my approach."

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