Siraj – the sentimental fast bowler is back with a bang

It is never easy for any fast bowler to see the batter (Phil Salt) hit you for the biggest six of the season (105 m) and then have him bowled the next ball! But, that may be symbolic of the fighter Siraj has been over the years.

Hyderabad: For the sentimental fast bowler, Mohammed Siraj of Gujarat Titans, it has been a truly brilliant comeback in the IPL 2025 what with rattling the stumps of India’s best white-ball batter and Indian captain Rohit Sharma and his opening partner Ryan Rickelton in Ahmedabad (4-0-34-2) and then ‘paying back the compliment’ to Royal Challengers Bengaluru with a spell of 4-0-19-3 in front of his former ‘home crowd’ to play a significant role in his team’s thumping win in Bengaluru on Wednesday night.

It is never easy for any fast bowler to see the batter (Phil Salt) hit you for the biggest six of the season (105 m) and then have him bowled the next ball! But, that may be symbolic of the fighter Siraj has been over the years.

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Given the humble background he had come from the by-lanes of Hyderabad, for the 31-year-old Siraj fighting adversity may not be new. Sometimes he is pretty expensive and looks ordinary, but he has developed that uncanny knack of coming back strongly every time he is being pushed to the sidelines.

For someone who is one of the vital cogs in India’s pace attack in Test cricket, the Hyderabadi has slipped out of the radar for the white-ball format and not picked for the Champions Trophy which India won in Dubai recently.

There is no doubt that his evolution into one of the premier pace bowlers was thanks to that stint with RCB for whom he picked 83 wickets in 87 games and more importantly where Virat Kohli had a special liking for him.

Bowling at speeds crossing the 140kmph mark consistently and a terrific length, Siraj was a treat to watch for sure in this IPL season.

“I was a little emotional, because I played here for seven years in the red jersey,” said Siraj, player of the match against RCB.

“Now it’s a different colour. I was a little nervous and a little emotional, too. But as soon as I got the ball in my hand, I was full on,” he said.”

“I took a break and focused on my fitness and bowling. It also helped mentally. Then when I joined GT, I spoke to Ashu [Ashish Nehra, coach] bhai. So it’s coming out well and I am confident. Ashu bhai tells me to go out and have fun. There’s no bigger confidence-booster than that,” said a visibly delighted Siraj in the post match presentation.

A rejuvenated Siraj is now keen to thrive on his ‘self-belief’ in any given condition. And, this may not be music to the teams which are lined up against Gujarat Titans as the IPL moves on!