Categories: IPLT20 leagues

IPL 2025: Mohammed Siraj Breaks Silence On Champions Trophy Snub, Credits Kohli For Support

Mohammed Siraj has been bowling really well for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025, especially after going through some tough personal times.

Mohammed Siraj Shines Bright for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025

Mohammed Siraj is one of the top wicket-takers in IPL 2025, with 11 wickets in 7 matches for Gujarat Titans. But before shining this season, he went through a rough patch – he was dropped from India’s white-ball teams and was released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he played for 7 years.

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The fiery pacer was left out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad, as Rohit Sharma said, “his effectiveness comes down when not bowling with the new ball.”

Siraj Opens Up on Missing the Champions Trophy

Siraj’s absence from the Champions Trophy 2025 sparked a lot of discussion among fans and cricket experts. He admitted that playing in ICC events is every cricketer’s dream, so missing out was tough. But instead of letting the disappointment hold him back, he used it as motivation.

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Rather than focusing on what he missed, Siraj worked harder, improved his game, and showed that setbacks only make a true fighter stronger. The challenges didn’t break him – they pushed him to come back even better with the Gujarat Titans.

Mohammed Siraj was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz, “For a professional, an ICC event is incredibly important. I’ve always dreamed of playing in the Champions Trophy & doing well for my country, but perhaps it wasn’t written in my destiny. It was difficult to reconcile, but I made peace with myself, focusing on improving and performing better. That has given me immense motivation.”

GT’s Big Investment Pays Off

Gujarat Titans believed in the T20 World Cup 2024 winner’s talent and showed strong faith by picking him up for a huge INR 12.25 crore at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction. The 2022 IPL champions clearly saw his value.

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Meanwhile, Mohammed Siraj had heartfelt words for his former RCB and India captain, Virat Kohli. His journey in cricket has seen many ups and downs, but one constant source of support has been Kohli. Siraj shared that during his toughest times, it was Kohli who stood by him. While others had doubts, Kohli believed in him, offering encouragement and lifting his spirits when he needed it the most.

Siraj said, “Virat Kohli bhaiya gave me a lot of backing and support during my tough phases. I’ve witnessed many ups and downs. And Virat Bhaiya backs me a lot in my down phase.”

Siraj will next be in action on April 21 when Gujarat Titans take on the defending champions, Kolkata Knight Riders, at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

After a dominant win over Delhi Capitals in Ahmedabad, GT is currently at the top of the points table with 10 points from seven matches. In contrast, KKR has managed to win just three out of their seven games so far this season.

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Unnati Madan

Unnati is a passionate cricket writer with a deep love and understanding of the game. As a female cricket writer, she brings a unique perspective to the sport, having had to overcome various challenges to pursue her passion for cricket. Growing up, Unnati developed a love for cricket by watching matches with her family. She was always fascinated by the way the game was played, and would often spend hours reading about cricket, analyzing matches, and learning more about the sport. However, as a female in a male-dominated industry, she faced numerous obstacles to pursue her passion for cricket writing. Despite this, Unnati persevered and became an accomplished writer in the field. Unnati’s writing style is engaging and insightful, with a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the nuances of the game. Her articles are known for their depth of analysis, and she is often sought after for her strong opinions on the sport. Unnati has a unique ability to break down complex ideas and make them accessible to a wide audience, which has helped her build a large following of readers.