Credit: X
Mohammed Siraj, who was a part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) from 2018 to 2024, will be against his old team as his current side Gujarat Titans (GT) are all set to take on the 2016 runners-up at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, on April 2. Siraj couldn’t make it to RCB’s retained list for IPL 2025. In his six-year stint with RCB, he did a fine job, grabbing 83 wickets in 87 matches. These numbers also make him the third-most successful bowler for the Challengers. This year, Siraj is a part of Gujarat TItans (GT) and his responsibility is to bolster the team’s fast-bowling unit with eminent pacers Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma and Prasidh Krishna.
Before GT’s crucial game against RCB, Siraj had an amiable moment with his old IPL teammate Virat Kohli at the Bengaluru’s iconic stadium. Gujarat Titans took to their official X handle and posted a video of bonhomie between both Team India stalwarts. The Titans’ caption read, “Sach batana, issi ka intezaar kar rahe the na #TitansFAM?”
Siraj will be expected to a deliver fierce start to GT against RCB
In Gujarat’s 36-run win against Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Siraj did an amazing job as an opening bowler for the hosts. The speedster got rid of Mumbai’s dangerous openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton within the first powerplay. His bowling boosted the confidence of Prasidh Krishna, who went on to bowl a frugal and wicket-taking spell (2/18 in four overs) in the match.
Siraj is accustomed to Bengaluru’s ground and he will be expected to get the early scalps of RCB’s formidable opening duo of Virat Kohli and Phil Salt, who have the potential to wreak havoc on bowlers in the initial overs of innings. Kohli holds a stunning batting record against GT, racking up 344 runs in five matches, with a hundred and three half-centuries.
