New Delhi [India] March 25: Ahead of the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Mohammed Siraj opened up about his role in the team and his plans for the upcoming campaign. Speaking on Backstage with Boria season 6, Siraj revealed that his primary responsibility will be to bowl with the new ball and focus on taking early wickets to apply pressure on the opposition.
“I will bowl with the new ball and my job is to take early wickets,” Siraj said. However, he explained that if he is unable to pick up wickets during the powerplay, his strategy will shift to bowling dot balls in order to build pressure. “If I do not get wickets, I aim to bowl dot balls to build that pressure. My role is to take as many wickets as possible at the start, which will help the bowlers coming in later,” he added.
Siraj also discussed the impact of the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. He highlighted that the large ground offers more opportunities to take wickets, especially with the use of short balls. “In Bengaluru, the top edge often goes for a six, but the ground is big here, so there are more chances to take wickets. We can use short balls and execute our plans better,” Siraj said.
The pacer also reflected on his leadership role within the team, mentioning his regular discussions with fellow bowlers Prasidh Krishna and Arshad Khan. “In the nets, when Prasidh and I are bowling, we always discuss different situations and plans for particular batters. We have a good understanding, and Arshad is a talented left-arm fast bowler. We share plans and it’s been fun so far,” Siraj shared.
This season, Siraj will be playing for Gujarat Titans, marking the end of his seven-year tenure with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). After a successful stint with RCB, where he became their third-highest wicket-taker, Siraj is now ready to bring his experience and skills to his new team.
Siraj’s journey in the IPL started with Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2017, before moving to RCB, where he played 87 matches and claimed 83 wickets. Despite his impressive performance, including a standout 2023 season with 19 wickets, Siraj was unable to win an IPL title with RCB.
His last competitive cricket match was in January, where he took four wickets in a Ranji Trophy encounter against Vidarbha. Although not selected for the Indian team that triumphed in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Siraj remains a key figure in Indian cricket and a crucial addition to Gujarat Titans for the upcoming IPL season.