Going back home can really hit you in the feels. Mohammed Siraj from GT shared how returning to play against his old team, RCB, brought back a flood of memories. Even with those feelings swirling around, he really stepped up and put on an impressive performance, leading to RCB’s heavy 8-wicket loss to the Gujarat Titans on Wednesday in IPL 2025.
Siraj spent seven seasons with RCB before they let him go, so stepping back onto that field was definitely a big deal for him. To add another twist, he had the disappointment of missing out on the Indian team for the Champions Trophy 2025—the very tournament that they went on to win. Talk about tough luck! But when he made his return to Chinnaswamy on Wednesday, playing in the blue of the Gujarat Titans, he brought a fiery spirit with him, making sure his old team felt the heat. He delivered an outstanding bowling performance, bagging 3 wickets for just 15 runs, which helped secure their eight-wicket victory.
“I was a bit emotional. I spent seven years here, and now I’m wearing a different color, Siraj confessed while accepting the Player of the Match award. “But once I had the ball, I was all good… I just focused on believing in myself.” And believe he did. He didn’t hold back, nabbing the wickets of key players: powerful opener Phil Salt, the talented Devdutt Padikkal, and the dangerous Liam Livingstone, marking the end of a remarkable spell.
When he was asked about his signature celebrations for each dismissal, Siraj couldn’t help but smile and share that he’s a huge fan of Cristiano Ronaldo. It seems those celebrations are his way of expressing pure joy on the field! Alongside his personal triumphs, Siraj also credited GT’s head coach Ashish Nehra and seasoned bowler Ishant Sharma for helping him settle back into his game. They provided him with the guidance he needed to focus on his skills as he geared up for this new IPL season.
“I played consistently before, but I took the time during the break to really address my mistakes and get better physically. After Gujarat Titans picked me up, I reached out to Ashish Bhai. He always reminds me to enjoy my bowling, while Ishu Bhai gives me advice on the right lines and lengths to bowl,” Siraj explained.
Thanks to their strong showing, the Gujarat Titans are now sitting in fourth place in the IPL 2025 standings, just behind RCB, who have unfortunately dropped down from their earlier top spot to third place. It’s clear that Siraj’s comeback is just getting started, and fans can’t wait to see what more he’ll achieve this season!
