New Delhi [India], April 7: Former cricketer and commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu showered praise on Gujarat Titans’ pacer Mohammed Siraj following his stellar performance against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the ongoing IPL 2025 season.
Siraj, who was left out of India’s Champions Trophy squad, has bounced back with a vengeance, making a strong case for national selection through his impactful spells in the IPL. Skipper Rohit Sharma had earlier cited Siraj’s ineffectiveness in the middle and death overs as the reason for his omission. But Siraj, clearly stung by the snub, has been on a mission to silence critics and prove his worth.
“After being dropped from the Champions Trophy squad, Siraj came to the IPL. There were more questions than answers,” Sidhu said in a video posted to Instagram following GT’s seven-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
Siraj’s IPL 2025 journey began on a rough note, conceding 54 runs in his four overs against Punjab Kings. But he quickly rebounded, dismantling Mumbai Indians’ top order by removing Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton, and then starred with a three-wicket haul in Bengaluru—his former home ground.
Returning to Hyderabad, Siraj delivered his career-best T20 performance, grabbing 4 wickets for 17 runs, with lethal in-swingers and pinpoint yorkers. His explosive display earned him the Player of the Match award for the second consecutive game, much to the delight of fans and experts alike. He even celebrated his wickets with Cristiano Ronaldo’s iconic ‘Suii’ gesture, igniting the home crowd.
“He dismissed Rohit and Rickelton, and then Padikkal and Salt. Today, he answered all questions,” Sidhu added. “He removed Head and Abhishek, then bowled Simarjeet with a yorker. Siraj has risen as a complete bowler. I salute your commitment.”
The 31-year-old Hyderabad speedster now has 9 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 13.77 and an economy of 7.75, making him the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament so far. With each game, ‘Miyaan Magic’ is cementing his place as a genuine bowling threat, reigniting his international hopes and thrilling IPL fans.