Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj is set to represent Gujarat Titans (GT) in the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season. Leaving Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) after six years, Siraj admitted it was an emotional moment for him, especially considering his deep connection with Virat Kohli.
Siraj on Virat Kohli and RCB Exit
Siraj, who was bought by RCB in 2018 for ₹2.6 crore, credited Kohli for supporting him during his tough times.
“To be honest, Virat Kohli has played a huge role in my career. He backed me during my bad times in 2018 and 2019. He even retained me, and after that, my performance and graph improved. He has been very supportive. It was very emotional for me to leave RCB,” Siraj told media.
Speaking about facing his former team, Siraj added:
“Let’s see what happens when I play against RCB. The match is on April 2.”
RCB Journey and Stats
During his tenure at RCB, Siraj became the franchise’s third-highest wicket-taker with 83 wickets in 87 matches at an average of 31.45 and best figures of 4/21. He played a crucial role in RCB’s campaigns, helping them qualify for the playoffs four times but never lifting the trophy.
His best IPL season came in 2023, where he took 19 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 19.74 and an economy rate of 7.50. In IPL 2024, he took 15 wickets in 14 matches, helping RCB make a stunning comeback in the second half of the season before losing to Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the eliminator.
New Chapter with Gujarat Titans
Siraj is looking forward to his time with GT and is excited about training with the new bowling unit.
“My training is going very well with all the pacers in my team. Our bowling unit knows how to plan and execute. I am feeling very good training with them, teammates, and especially being here in Gujarat Titans,” he said.
Siraj last played competitive cricket in January 2025 for Hyderabad against Vidarbha in the Ranji Trophy, where he picked up four wickets across both innings.