Siraj’s Soothing Solace: A Heartfelt Reflection on Confronting RCB After Bittersweet Memories
As the Gujarat Titans took to the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium for their IPL 2025 matchup against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, emotions were running high for one of their own, Mohammed Siraj. The fast bowler had played for RCB for seven years before making the move to GT, and facing his former teammates was a bittersweet moment. However, Siraj soon shifted his focus, channeling his energy into a standout performance that left a lasting impression.
Siraj’s opening spell was nothing short of intense, with his pace clocking in at over 140 km/h as he consistently targeted the stumps. His winding deliveries and precise length had RCB’s top order in disarray, with Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, and Liam Livingstone all falling prey to his precision. “As a bowler, I want to always have belief,” Siraj said after the match, reflecting on his mindset. “If that is not there, you panic. I have a belief that I can do well, irrespective of wherever I am playing, and that is my mindset.”
The win marked a significant turning point for Siraj, who had been out of India’s white-ball scheme for a while, using the downtime to work on his game. “I focused on my bowling, on my fitness,” he revealed, crediting team mentor Ashish Nehra for his guidance. Siraj also spoke about his newfound camaraderie with his GT teammates, including Kagiso Rabada, Ishant Sharma, and others, who have provided invaluable feedback.
Jos Buttler, who scored an unbeaten 39-ball 73, echoed Siraj’s sentiments, acknowledging that the bowlers had set the tone for the match. However, the England star admitted that the fielding and his own performance could have been better. “The bowlers were fantastic, the fielding could have been better, myself better, we might have been chasing 30 runs less,” he said, adding that the movement early on with the new ball had been a challenge.
GT captain Shubman Gill praised Siraj’s performance, saying it had helped set the tone for the match. “Not 200, but we were targeting around 190. So, restricting them to 170 was a good effort,” he declared. Rajat Patidar, RCB’s captain, lamented the loss of early wickets, which ultimately sealed their fate. “Not 200, we were targeting around 190 after the powerplay, but losing early wickets harmed this match,” he said, acknowledging that his team’s batting line-up showed promise.
In the end, Siraj’s four-over spell of 3-19 propelled GT to an eight-wicket victory, further solidifying his position as one of the league’s most formidable bowlers. As he celebrated his Player of the Match award, it was clear that Siraj was fully invested in his new team, and eager to make his mark on the IPL 2025.
Original Source: https://www.india.com/sports/ipl-2025-mohammed-siraj-opens-up-about-his-feelings-over-playing-against-rcb-after-seven-years-7727886/
Category : Cricket,Sports,GT vs RCB,IPL 2025,M. Chinnaswamy Stadium,Mohammed Siraj
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Publish Date: 2025-04-03 03:13:00
