Siraj recounts his emotional journey back to the M Chinnaswamy Stadium while competing for the Gujarat Titans against his old side, RCB. Siraj’s remarkable match-winning display, which saw him collect three wickets, earned him the coveted Player of the Match. He has attributed his achievements to the mentorship of Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma, as well as the supporters, with his trademark Ronaldo celebration.
Mohammed Siraj shed tears while playing at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he showcased a spectacular bowling performance, taking 3 wickets for 19 runs against his previous squad, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, while representing the Gujarat Titans. The speedster, who was with RCB for seven years from 2018 to 2024, took home the Player of the Match title in his very first game at the location in a Titan’s blue jersey, a stark contrast to RCB’s red.
During the powerplay, Siraj’s sensational bowling continued as he got both Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt out and celebrated with the iconic Ronaldo ‘siu’ cheer.
While playing for the RCB, Siraj appeared in 87 matches, claiming 83 wickets at an average of 31.45, with a best of 4/21. The franchise decided not to retain him before the 2025 mega-auction. “I was a bit emotional. I was here for seven years, and the jersey changed from red to blue. There was some nervousness and some emotion, but the moment I got the ball in my hand, it was full-on,” Siraj commented after receiving Player of the Match honors.
As to what inspired his unique style of celebration, Siraj said ‘I am Ronaldo’s fan and hence the celebration’.
The pacer took advantage of not being included in the Champions Trophy squad to focus on his preparations. “I had been playing consistently, but during the break, I fixed my mistakes and improved my conditioning,” was how he put it. Siraj has received significant mentorship from Ashish Nehra, as well as from veteran pace bowler Ishant Sharma, while playing forthe Gujarat Titans. “After my selection for Gujarat Titans, I had a word with Ashish Bhai. He says, ‘Bhai, go enjoy your bowling,’ and Ishu (Ishant) Bhai guides me on the line and length to bowl. As far as my mindset goes, it is belief, and then the pitch does not matter,” Siraj remarked.
