1 week Ago
Mohammed Siraj was named Player of the Match for his brilliant 3/19 against his former franchise, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he played for seven years. Former India cricketer and Gujarat Titans batting coach Parthiv Patel on Wednesday lauded pacer Mohammed Siraj, after he bowled a match-winning spell against his former team Royal Challengers Bengaluru, who released him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. Siraj was named Player of the Match for his brilliant 3/19 against his former franchise, Bengaluru, where he played for seven years.
Bengaluru’s star-studded top order crumbled against Gujarat’s pace attack in the first seven overs. “ Ashu Pa spoke about being attacking from ball and over number one. That is exactly what you did.
You led the way. Brilliant first over and then followed it up well," Parthiv told Siraj during a dressing room discussion after the match. “It was important to bowl that last 19th over well.
That is something which you did brilliantly. Well done, I only believe in matchwinner Mohammed Siraj," Parthiv added. Notably, Siraj had lauded ace India pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s performance in the final of the T20 World Cup last year in a similar manner, a quote that went viral on social media.
“I only believe in Jassi Bhai because game changer player he is," Siraj had said. The star India pacer led a group of fired-up Gujarat bowlers as they limited the vaunted Bengaluru batting unit to 169/8 despite a providential 54 by Liam Livingstone. Once the Titans decided to bowl first, they wouldn’t have envisioned such a domination over a potent batting line-up, even considering a rather slow and grippy track.
The slip-down started with the wicket of ace India batter Virat Kohli (7), who started with a cover-driven boundary off Siraj (4-0-19-3). But Kohli fell to left-arm pacer Arshad Khan, who came in for Kagiso Rabada, attempting a pull that ended in the hands of Prasidh Krishna at fine leg. Thereafter, the Bengaluru top order was poleaxed by Gujarat bowlers led by Siraj, who joined the team after a seven-season stint in the red and gold jersey ahead of IPL 2025.
Gujarat next play the hard-hitting Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, April 6, at the latter’s home and Siraj will be put to the test against the Travis Head-led batting lineup..
