"Was A Bit Emotional...": Mohammed Siraj On Facing RCB After IPL 2025 Auction Snub

Playing against Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the first time after seven years with them was a bit emotional for Gujarat Titans' pacer Mohammed Siraj. But the pacer, after picking 3-19 and helping his team win by eight wickets at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, said he was all fired up after getting the ball in hand. Siraj brought the heat on with his pace going above 140 and attacked stumps while hitting good length areas consistently to pick a superb 3-19 in his four overs. He rattled RCB in the power-play by castling Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt, before taking out a rampaging Liam Livingstone in the fag end. “It was emotional because I played for seven years here (for RCB). There was some nervousness and some emotion, but the moment I got the ball in my hand, it was full-on (intensity). That I am here (ready for the contest through my celebration), and I am a Cristiano Ronaldo fan as well.”

“As a bowler, I want to always have belief - that is an important thing. If that is not there, you panic (when you get hit). I have a belief that I can do well, irrespective of wherever I am playing, and that is my mindset,” said Siraj after getting the Player of the Match award.

In the run-up to the competition, Siraj was out of India's white-ball scheme of things and added that he used that time to work on where he was making mistakes. “I was playing matches consistently, so I was not realizing the mistakes I was making. In the break, I focused on my bowling, on my fitness.”

“When I joined GT, I spoke to Ashu bhai (Ashish Nehra), and the ball is coming out nicely now. He asked me to just enjoy myself and do whatever I wanted. I talk to them (Rabada, Ishant, and other bowling partners) and get feedback, which is really helpful,”