Mohammed Siraj made a significant impact with the ball against his former team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, showcasing a remarkable performance of 3/19 that paved the way for the Gujarat Titans' eight-wicket victory in IPL 2025 on Wednesday. His display was characterized by speed, precision, and determination, qualities that did not escape the notice of former cricketer Virender Sehwag, who praised the young fast bowler's passion and intensity.

In a discussion on Cricbuzz, Sehwag highlighted Siraj's effectiveness with the new ball, suggesting that the pacer was playing with an extra motivation—not only due to the challenge of facing his old franchise but also possibly driven by his exclusion from India's Champions Trophy squad.

"He upheld his impressive record with the new ball at Chinnaswamy, conceding only 12 or 13 runs in the initial three overs. He could have bowled the fourth over as well, potentially claiming another wicket. He swings the new ball effectively, and yesterday, he also benefited from the conditions.

"He possesses that competitive spirit. I sense he feels disappointed about not being included in the Champions Trophy squad, and I witnessed that intensity. This is what we expect from a young fast bowler: ‘You didn’t select me? Now I will prove myself.’ I hope he maintains this level of intensity and earns a spot back in the Indian team."

Siraj was not retained by Bengaluru prior to this season, and in his first match back at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, he made sure they felt his absence. After allowing a boundary to Virat Kohli in his opening over, Siraj quickly rebounded, dismissing Devdutt Padikkal for just four runs and then taking out Phil Salt with a stunning delivery that broke the off stump. Thanks to Siraj's exceptional opening spell, RCB found themselves struggling at 42/4 during the powerplay.

Despite a resilient 54 from Liam Livingstone and some late fireworks from Tim David, Bengaluru could only post a total of 169/8. In response, Jos Buttler redeemed himself for his earlier mistakes behind the stumps, scoring an unbeaten 73 off 39 balls and leading Gujarat to victory in 17.5 overs.

Siraj on his outing

For Siraj, the match held significant meaning, and he acknowledged feeling "nervous" prior to competing against RCB. 

“It was a heartfelt experience since I spent seven years here,” he reflected after the game. “I felt a mix of nervousness and emotion … however, I have confidence in my ability to perform well, regardless of where I am playing, and that is my approach.”

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