RCB vs GT, IPL 2025: Mohammed Siraj haunts old team RCB with dramatic spell for GT

Mohammed Siraj returned to M Chinnaswamy stadium, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with dramatic spell of 3/19 that included 50% of dot balls.

Mohammed Siraj returned to the Chinnaswamy Stadium, his IPL home of 7 years in Gujarat Titans colours and created proper drama. Siraj finished with 3 for 19 off 4 overs, including the key wickets of Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone in the RCB vs GT match.

More than 50 per cent of his spell was studded with dot balls, and he conceded just one four and one six – an incredible feat for any bowler at this batting paradise with small boundaries.

Siraj played for Royal Challengers Bengaluru for 7 seasons from 2018 to 2024 before he was bought by GT in the player auction late last year. On Tuesday, unsurprisingly, the main focus was on a Siraj vs Kohli battle.

Siraj was Kohli’s go-to bowler at RCB for years; he also commanded the same respect for India with Kohli as captain. After an ordinary Test tour of Australia, Siraj did not find a place in India’s Champions Trophy squad and he obviously had a point to prove.

Siraj spewed fire from the start; it’s another thing that Kohli hit him for a sweetly timed cover drive off the first ball he faced and then fell to Arshad Khan. But Siraj was almost unplayable in his first spell of 2 for 15 off 3 overs.

Mohammed Siraj could have had his first wicket earlier had Jos Buttler not dropped Phil Salt behind the stumps; it was an easy chance and should have been taken but Siraj moved on quickly and dismissed Devdutt Padikkal in his next over.

Siraj’s peach was too much for Padikkal and the GT captain, Shubman Gill kept him on for one more over. Salt hit Siraj for a towering six before losing his off-stump to the mercurial bowler in the same over.

Siraj was brought back for his final spell and final over with Liam Livingstone on song, having smashed a half-century. And guess what; he struck right away to get rid of the dangerous hitter – this time Buttler made no mistake behind the wickets.