Mohammed Siraj Shines in IPL 2025 as Gujarat Titans Defeat Sunrisers Hyderabad
Siraj's Stellar Performance Boosts Gujarat Titans
Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], April 6: After leading his team to victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Gujarat Titans (GT) bowler Mohammed Siraj shared his feelings about being overlooked for India's ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad. He expressed how the presence of his family in the audience motivated him during this significant win over the 2022 champions.
Continuing his impressive form in IPL 2025, Siraj achieved a remarkable milestone by taking his hundredth wicket and recording the best bowling figures in IPL history with 4/17 in just four overs, contributing to GT's seven-wicket triumph at Uppal Stadium.
In the post-match presentation, Siraj remarked, “Playing at my home ground is always special. Having my family in the crowd really uplifted my spirits. After seven years with RCB, I’ve dedicated myself to improving my bowling and mindset, and it’s paying off. Initially, I struggled with not being selected for the Champions Trophy, but I focused on maintaining my fitness and honing my skills.”
He added, “I addressed my mistakes and found joy in my bowling. As a professional, doubts can creep in when you’re consistently part of the Indian team, but I kept my spirits high and looked forward to the IPL. Executing my plans effectively gives me a unique satisfaction.”
Siraj's dominance in IPL 2025 is evident, with nine wickets in four matches at an impressive average of 13.77 and an economy rate of 7.75, making him one of the top bowlers this season.
In the match, SRH batted first after GT won the toss, but their top order struggled, with Travis Head (8), Abhishek Sharma (18), and Ishan Kishan (17) contributing to a dismal start at 50/3. A partnership between Nitish Kumar Reddy (31 off 34 balls) and Heinrich Klaasen (27 off 19 balls) along with a quick 22* from skipper Pat Cummins helped SRH reach 152/8 in their 20 overs.
Bowling standout performances came from Prasidh Krishna (2/25) and Sai Kishore (2/24).
GT's chase began shakily, losing two wickets for just 16 runs. However, a crucial 90-run partnership between skipper Shubman Gill (61 off 43 balls) and Washington Sundar (49 off 29 balls) shifted the momentum, with Sherfane Rutherford (35* off 16 balls) expertly finishing the chase with 20 balls to spare and seven wickets in hand.
Currently, GT holds the second position in the points table with three wins and one loss, totaling six points, while SRH finds itself at the bottom, facing their fourth consecutive defeat after a strong start against Rajasthan Royals (RR).