Mohammed Siraj stepped into the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on April 2, 2025, with his heart pounding and his focus razor-sharp. The crowd roared with excitement, but for Siraj, this match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru meant much more than just four overs of fast bowling. He returned to his former home—not as a beloved RCB player—but as a fierce competitor for Gujarat Titans. And on this emotional return, he didn’t just play; he roared.
He carried with him seven years’ worth of memories, triumphs, and heartbreak. Siraj spent a large part of his IPL career building his name with RCB. He led their bowling attack, won hearts with his passion, and grew into one of India’s finest pacers while wearing the red and black jersey. So when RCB chose to release him ahead of the IPL 2025 auction, the move surprised fans and rattled Siraj himself.
But instead of letting the disappointment weigh him down, Siraj turned the page. Gujarat Titans recognized his value and picked him up during the auction. With the backing of his new team and the fire of unfinished business burning inside, Siraj circled the date he would face RCB on his calendar.
A Charged Build-Up and Emotional Undercurrents
In the days leading up to the match, fans buzzed with excitement over the fixture. Social media lit up with throwback moments of Siraj’s best RCB performances. Every cricket lover knew this wouldn’t just be a game for him. The crowd expected fireworks, and Siraj prepared to deliver them—not with his words, but with the ball.
In interviews before the match, he acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment. He had spent years wearing RCB colors, celebrated wins with the squad, and fought through defeats. But he also understood that cricket demands focus, not nostalgia. So when he wore the Gujarat Titans’ jersey and laced up his boots, he locked in. He didn’t come to Chinnaswamy for a reunion. He came for a battle.
Siraj Wrote His Redemption Story—One Wicket at a Time
Shubman Gill, Gujarat’s captain, won the toss and decided to bowl first. Siraj took the new ball and charged in with intensity. The first over set the tone. With each delivery, he bent his back and extracted movement from the pitch. Then came the breakthrough.
Siraj dismissed RCB opener Devdutt Padikkal with a delivery that pitched on a good length and darted in sharply. The ball crashed into the stumps, and Siraj didn’t celebrate quietly. He pumped his fists, let out a roar, and stared at the crowd that once chanted his name in RCB’s favor. On this night, he gave them a reason to admire him in a new jersey.
He didn’t stop there. In his second over, Siraj sent Phil Salt back to the pavilion. Salt tried to cut a delivery that wasn’t wide enough and nicked it straight into the hands of Rahul Tewatia at point. Siraj’s celebration grew louder. He had taken down two of RCB’s key top-order players within the powerplay.
Later in the innings, Siraj returned for a third spell and picked up a third wicket. He kept his line tight, bowled with relentless discipline, and didn’t allow RCB’s batters to breathe. His final figures read 3 wickets for just 19 runs in four overs. This performance played a crucial role in restricting RCB to a modest 136 for 8 in 20 overs.
The Roar That Echoed Louder Than Ever
Every delivery Siraj bowled that night sent a message—not just to RCB management, but to every franchise that overlooked him during the auction. He didn’t need interviews to speak for him. His pace and precision did the talking. After each wicket, he celebrated with the same intensity fans had grown used to over the years, only this time, the jersey had changed.
Siraj looked toward the RCB dugout after one of his wickets, his face expressing a mixture of satisfaction and challenge. The emotions were raw, but his professionalism never wavered. He didn’t cross the line. He simply played the kind of cricket that defines him—aggressive, passionate, and fearless.
Gujarat Titans Gained a Gem, RCB Let Go of One
Gujarat Titans couldn’t have asked for more. Siraj gave them a dream start, and his fiery spell crushed RCB’s batting momentum. Jos Buttler later took over and chased down the target with an unbeaten 73 off 39 balls. Gujarat sealed the match with eight wickets in hand, but it was Siraj who laid the foundation for that victory.
Gujarat’s captain Shubman Gill praised Siraj after the game, highlighting how his early breakthroughs created space for the rest of the bowling unit to dominate. “He bowled with intent and purpose,” Gill said during the post-match presentation. “His energy lifted the whole team.”
While Siraj celebrated in the Gujarat camp, RCB faced questions. Letting go of a bowler who had carried their pace attack for years now looked like a mistake. RCB fans, too, felt the sting. Many took to social media to express regret over losing one of their own. Siraj had left an emotional mark not just on the pitch, but in the hearts of fans who once cheered him in red.
Siraj Shares His Heart
In the post-match media interaction, Siraj didn’t hide his emotions. “I won’t lie. I felt a bit emotional stepping into Chinnaswamy as an opponent,” he admitted. “This stadium means a lot to me. I have so many memories here. But once I took the ball, I knew I had a job to do. Gujarat showed faith in me, and I needed to repay that trust.”
He paused and then added, “I didn’t have anything to prove to anyone. I just wanted to play my game and show that I’m still the same Siraj.”
Redemption Earned, Legacy Reinforced
Mohammed Siraj’s performance against RCB wasn’t just about three wickets. It was about the journey—the rise, the heartbreak, and the resurgence. He returned to the city that watched him grow, and he conquered it in new colors. This story didn’t need hype or drama. It unfolded organically, and every cricket fan watched it with admiration.
With the rest of the IPL 2025 season still ahead, Siraj looks ready to lead Gujarat’s bowling unit. His confidence has peaked, his hunger has intensified, and his focus remains unwavering. He doesn’t carry the burden of revenge. Instead, he plays with the calm fury of a man who knows what he’s capable of.
Bengaluru gave Siraj a stage to shine for seven years. On April 2, he lit up that same stage—only this time, he did it wearing different colors and carrying the roar of redemption in every stride.
