Follow UsMohammed Siraj couldn’t have asked for a better start to IPL 2025, with 11 wickets across seven games, averaging 22.82, for the Gujarat Titans (GT). The right-arm pacer has already picked up a four-wicket haul in the season, striking at regular intervals, starkly different from last season, where he averaged 33.07.
So, what has changed for Siraj, apart from the franchise?
“Here at GT, coach Ashu Bhai [Ashish Nehra] already knew me from my time at RCB and SRH, as he was with those franchises in different roles. He has given me a lot of freedom. The ambience here is much more relaxed,” Siraj told Cricbuzz in an interview.
“Freedom is crucial for a professional. Players are under a lot of pressure, and it's important to create a relaxed atmosphere. Ashu Bhai creates that. He tells me, 'I know what you are capable of, so just enjoy your bowling.' For a player, such a display of trust and confidence is truly significant.”
Siraj recently completed 100 IPL games, out of which 87 have come for his previous franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), where he’s struck 83 times. The right-arm pacer looked back at his journey with RCB, where he was tasked to bowl on one of the smallest grounds in the country - M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
“When I was with RCB, I knew there was a certain way to bowl at the Chinnaswamy. It's a small ground, so I focused on attacking the stumps as much as possible. I knew that trying too much could lead to leaking runs. By keeping it simple and targeting the stumps, I managed to pick up wickets,” he said.
“I was at RCB for seven years, and I've witnessed many ups and downs. Virat Bhai [Kohli] gave me a lot of backing during that time. My success graph did dip there at times. Chinnaswamy is such a small ground, so it's not always easy for bowlers. But in one season, I returned an economy rate of seven (7.52 in 2023), and in a way, I was enjoying my bowling there. I definitely enjoyed my stint at RCB.”
The 31-year-old will next be in action on April 21 (Monday) when GT face KKR at Eden Gardens.