Mohammed Siraj delivered a stellar performance for Gujarat Titans against Sunrisers Hyderabad, picking up 4 for 17—his best figures in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). After the match, Siraj credited his recent rest period for his renewed energy and rhythm.
Siraj had an impressive run in the 2024–25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, finishing as India’s second-highest wicket-taker. However, he was left out of the Champions Trophy squad. Rather than being disheartened, he bounced back in style in the IPL, where he now sits joint second on the wicket-takers’ list with nine scalps in four games. His strike rate of 10.66 and economy of 7.75 underline his impact with the ball this season.
What’s notable this season is Siraj’s ability to strike in both the powerplay and death overs. He has already taken three wickets at the death in just four innings—he had five such wickets in the entire 2024 season. His spells are combining skill, control, and strategic aggression.
A key factor in his performance, Siraj believes, is the return of saliva usage on the ball in the IPL—a rule that had been suspended in international cricket since the Covid pandemic.
“If the ball tails in a bit, it is a wicket,” he explained. “When there is no saliva, the ball comes onto the bat easily and makes it easy for the batters. This rule makes it much better for the bowlers.”
Siraj dismissed Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma early with the new ball, then returned to send Aniket Verma and Simarjeet Singh back in the 19th over. His control over swing and his sharp bowling intelligence stood out throughout the spell.
“The wicket was slow,” Siraj said. “I tried to swing it a little at the start, but it did not happen. The more you attack the stumps, the better it is.”
Mohammed Siraj, fresh and firing, is once again proving why he remains one of the most dangerous fast bowlers in the league—and perhaps, one of the biggest threats for any opposition in IPL 2025.
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