Mohammed Siraj showcased his resilience and skill with a remarkable bowling performance, claiming figures of 4/17 for Gujarat Titans in their convincing seven-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023. The match, held on Sunday at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, was a testament to Siraj’s determination following his exclusion from the Indian team for the Champions Trophy earlier in the year.
Siraj’s exceptional spell was instrumental in restricting Sunrisers Hyderabad to a total of 152 for eight after they were put in to bat first. The victory was particularly sweet for Siraj, as it unfolded in front of his parents, who were present in the stands at his home ground.
Reflecting on his journey, Siraj admitted the initial difficulty in coping with the Champions Trophy snub. ‘I was not able to digest it at first,’ he confessed during the post-match presentation. However, he channeled his disappointment into focused training and self-improvement. ‘I kept my spirits up and worked on my fitness and game. I identified my mistakes and worked on them, and now I’m enjoying my bowling,’ he added.
As a professional cricketer, Siraj acknowledged the mental challenge of being dropped from the national team. ‘When you are consistently with the Indian team, a doubt grows in your mind, but I cheered myself up and was looking forward to the IPL,’ he explained. His performance on the day was a clear demonstration of his ability to execute his plans effectively, moving the ball both ways and reaping the rewards.
The emotional significance of playing at his home ground was not lost on Siraj. ‘When you come to your home ground, it’s a special feeling. My family was there in the crowd, and that lifted me up,’ he shared. Despite having played for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for seven years, Siraj’s move to Gujarat Titans has evidently been beneficial for his growth both as a bowler and in his mindset.
Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill, who played an unbeaten knock of 61 off 43 balls, was quick to praise his bowling unit. ‘Bowlers are game-changers, especially in this format. A lot of people talk about T20s, batting and hitting, but we think matches are won by bowlers, and that is why there is a lot of emphasis on bowlers in this franchise,’ Gill stated.
Gill also touched upon the debut of Washington Sundar for Gujarat Titans and Siraj’s contribution. ‘He (Washington) was very close to playing in the game against Mumbai. He was padded up the whole game, but with the impact player rule, it gives you an opportunity to play someone else if you need an extra bowler. It was all about having a good partnership, and we said once we are set, we will take it from there,’ Gill explained.
Speaking about Siraj, Gill added, ‘The energy he brings is tremendous. When playing against him, you want him in your team. His energy is infectious.’
Washington Sundar, who contributed with the bat, shared his approach during the match. ‘The skipper kept telling me to play as deep as possible. I got off to a good start and wanted to bat as deep as possible and finish for the team. This has been the trend in Hyderabad in the last few years. In the second innings, the wicket gets better and easier to chase 160-170 on the board. I was well aware of it, and it helped me,’ he said.
Sunrisers Hyderabad captain Pat Cummins reflected on the match conditions. ‘Not a traditional Hyderabad wicket, tough to get fluency in your innings. At the end there, it did not spin as much as we thought. A few runs short and they batted well,’ he concluded, acknowledging the opposition’s superior performance on the day.