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Mohammed Siraj turned the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium into his personal playground on Wednesday, delivering a fiery 3/19 spell that torched Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and handed Gujarat Titans (GT) a crushing eight-wicket win in IPL 2025. The pacer, back at the venue he called home for seven seasons, ripped through RCB’s batting to restrict them to a measly 169/8—a total GT chased down with ease, thanks to Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 73 off 39 balls. For RCB, it was a rude homecoming after a dream start to the season.
RCB had been on a roll, kicking off IPL 2025 with two road victories: a cakewalk chase of 175 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and a commanding 196 that humbled Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk. But their first home game? A reality check. At Chinnaswamy—where 200 is often just a starting point—RCB’s 169/8 was a sitting duck, and GT’s bowlers, led by Siraj, made sure it stayed that way.
Siraj, now in GT’s blue after years in RCB red, admitted to a flood of emotions. “I was here for seven years, changed jerseys, and felt emotional—but once I got the ball, I was fine,” he said post-match, clutching the Player of the Match award. And boy, did he deliver. Nearly nabbing Phil Salt twice in the first over—a top-edge that flew safe and a dropped catch by Buttler—Siraj didn’t flinch. He struck gold in the powerplay, bowling Devdutt Padikkal with a vicious inswinger and then uprooting Salt’s off-stump with a 144 kmph scorcher after the Englishman smashed a six out of the park.
His three-over burst (2/15) left RCB reeling at 38 in the powerplay, snuffing out any hope of a 200-plus total. Siraj returned in the 19th over to dismiss Liam Livingstone (54), sealing his figures at 3/19. “I worked on my fitness and corrected mistakes during the break,” he revealed. “Ashish Bhai (Nehra) told me to enjoy my bowling, and Ishu Bhai (Ishant) guided my line and length. It’s all about belief.”
Despite Rashid Khan leaking 54 runs, GT’s attack was clinical. Arshad Khan drew first blood, sending Virat Kohli packing for a rare low score, caught at deep backward square. Siraj’s double strike in the powerplay set the tone, and regular wickets kept RCB’s big guns—like Rajat Patidar and Tim David—quiet. The result? A sub-par total that never stood a chance.
Chasing 170, GT barely broke a sweat. Buttler, silencing doubters after a lean patch with England, blazed an unbeaten 73 off 39, steering the Titans home with 14 balls to spare. Shubman Gill’s men now boast two wins in two, while RCB lick their wounds after their first stumble.
For RCB fans, it’s a familiar tale: a batting paradise turned graveyard by a former hero. Siraj’s spell ensured the home side couldn’t capitalize on their fortress, and GT’s chase underlined just how short 169 was. “At Chinnaswamy, even 200 can be tricky to defend,” one pundit quipped—and Wednesday proved it.
RCB will look to bounce back from this humbling, but GT’s early dominance—powered by Siraj’s fire and Buttler’s flair—sends a warning to the league. For Siraj, it’s a sweet return to haunt his old stomping ground. “The pitch doesn’t matter if you believe,” he grinned. RCB might disagree—they’ll need more than belief to stop off Siraj’s next time.
Stay tuned for more IPL 2025 fireworks!
