Mohammed Siraj Opens Up on Emotional Return to Chinnaswamy, Stellar Performance Against RCB

Mohammed Siraj delivered a stunning performance in his emotional return to M Chinnaswamy Stadium, but this time as a Gujarat Titans player, facing his former franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The pacer, who was a fan-favorite at RCB for seven years, showcased his brilliance with the ball, dismantling his old team’s batting lineup with figures of 3/19 in four overs. His fiery spell silenced the Bengaluru crowd and earned him the Player of the Match award.

Siraj was a mainstay at RCB from 2018 to 2024, playing 87 matches and taking 83 wickets at an average of 31.45. Despite his contributions, the franchise made the bold decision not to retain him ahead of the 2025 mega auction, leading to his move to Gujarat Titans.

‘It Was Emotional, But I Switched to Game Mode’

Speaking about his experience of playing against his former team, Siraj admitted it was a bittersweet moment.

“I was a bit emotional. I was here for seven years, and now I’ve changed from red to blue. There was some nervousness and emotion, but the moment I got the ball in my hand, it was full-on,” Siraj said after receiving the Player of the Match award.

The 31-year-old was electric in the powerplay, removing Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt early in the innings. His aggressive celebrations caught the spotlight, as he pulled off football icon Cristiano Ronaldo’s trademark ‘Siu’ celebration after picking up wickets.

“I am a Ronaldo fan, and that’s why the celebration,” Siraj revealed with a smile.

Turning a Setback into a Comeback

After missing out on India’s Champions Trophy squad, Siraj used his break to focus on fitness and fine-tune his bowling.

“I had been playing continuously, but during the break, I worked on correcting my mistakes and improving my fitness,” he explained.

He also credited Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra and veteran pacer Ishant Sharma for their guidance in refining his bowling approach.

“Once I was picked up by Gujarat Titans, I spoke to Ashish Bhai. He told me to just enjoy my bowling. Ishu Bhai (Ishant Sharma) advised me on what line and length to bowl. My mindset is to have belief, and then the pitch doesn’t matter,” he added.

With his remarkable performance against RCB, Siraj has sent a strong message, proving he remains a force to be reckoned with in the IPL, regardless of the jersey he wears.