Mohammed Siraj significantly impacted his return to M Chinnaswamy Stadium, representing the Gujarat Titans against the home team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Having spent seven years with RCB, Siraj unleashed his skills with the new ball after the Gujarat Titans won the toss and chose to bowl first. The leading Indian fast bowler took two wickets during the powerplay, effectively undermining RCB's efforts on their home ground.

His first wicket was Devdutt Padikkal, who, in an aggressive attempt, charged down the pitch but dragged the ball onto his stumps.

The highlight of the match, however, was Siraj's contest with Phil Salt. In the opening over, Siraj nearly dismissed Salt, but wicketkeeper Jos Buttler let a straightforward catch slip, granting Salt a second chance.

In the fifth over, Salt hit Siraj's fourth delivery for an impressive 105-meter six, thrilling the home crowd. The game was momentarily halted as the ball landed outside the stadium, but Siraj was focused on making a comeback with the next delivery. He ultimately had the last word, as he bowled Salt out right after conceding the six, catching the Englishman off guard with his pace on the flat Chinnaswamy pitch. Salt was dismissed for a mere 14 runs.

Siraj dedicated seven years, from 2018 to 2024, to the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), but the franchise made a significant decision not to retain him prior to the 2025 mega auction. After a single season with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2017, where he claimed 10 wickets in six matches, Siraj was acquired by RCB for INR 2.6 crore. During his tenure with the team, he played in 87 matches, taking 83 wickets at an average of 31.45, with his best performance being 4/21.

The management of RCB faced criticism for their choice, as Siraj had become a fan favorite over the years. He was subsequently signed by Gujarat Titans for an impressive INR 12.25 crore during the mega auction, and he validated this investment with an outstanding performance against the Mumbai Indians in his most recent match.

In the meantime, RCB opted to maintain their lineup for the crucial match, while Shubman Gill announced a change for the visiting team, noting that Kagiso Rabada was unavailable due to personal matters.

"We'll bowl first. The pitch looks promising. We've observed that the conditions remain consistent. Our focus is on minimizing unforced errors. We aim to refine the areas that require improvement. Kagiso is absent for personal reasons, so we have brought back Arshad Khan," Gill stated after winning the toss.

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