Mohammed Siraj said being dropped from the Indian team was hard to accept, but he stayed positive, worked on his game, and is now happy to see the results in the IPL.
Mohammed Siraj produced a match-winning spell in the Indian Premier League, helping Gujarat Titans defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets on Sunday. The 31-year-old pacer returned with his best IPL figures of 4 for 17 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. His effort earned him the Player of the Match award.
“When you come to your home ground, it’s a special feeling. My family was there in the crowd, and that lifted me up. I have played for seven years for RCB. I have worked hard on my bowling and also on my mindset, it’s working well for me,” Siraj said during the post-match presentation.
After being dropped from the national team following India’s Border-Gavaskar series loss in Australia, Mohammed Siraj missed the Champions Trophy 2025 — a tournament India eventually won. He admitted it was tough to accept the exclusion but remained focused on fitness and improvement.
“At one time, I was not able to digest it, but I kept my spirits up and worked on my fitness and game. Whatever mistakes I was making, I worked on those and I’m enjoying my bowling. As a professional, when you are consistently with the Indian team, a doubt grows in your mind, but I cheered myself up and was looking forward to the IPL,” he added.
In the match, Mohammed Siraj delivered a precise spell, striking early by removing Travis Head in the first over. He then dismissed Abhishek Sharma during the power play. His control with the older ball stood out, an area he had previously struggled with. Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill guided the chase with a composed 61 off 43 balls. On a slightly tricky pitch, GT reached the 149-run target in just 16.4 overs. The win moved Gujarat Titans to second place on the IPL points table.
