IPL 2025: Has recent snub spurred on Mohammed Siraj to a fiery streak?

Mohammed Siraj, the effervescent Indian paceman, has been a character who has always worn his heart on his sleeves — often to the point where his misplaced aggression has come in for criticism. Maybe nearly eight years in top-flight cricket has tempered the personality a bit — but the Hyderabad man still remains someone who is all heart.

Much as he may downplay it, the 31-year-old must have been hurt at captain Rohit Sharma’s critique of him after he was snubbed for the squad and youngster was preferred over him.

The Indian skipper’s assessment was that Siraj tends to lose his sting when he comes back with the old ball.

“At one time, I was not able to digest it (non-selection for the Champions Trophy) but I kept my spirits high and worked on my fitness and game. Whatever mistakes I was making, I worked on those and I am enjoying my bowling,” a beaming Siraj told the broadcasters as he completed 100 IPL wickets in style for his new team, the Gujarat Titans’ win over the on Sunday, 6 April.

This one's for you #TitansFam! 💙

Thank You for coming in numbers and keeping the vibes on 🔝! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/LXPU7KbW0F

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 7, 2025

Call it poetic justice, if you will, but the high point of Siraj’s redemption arc came in front of his home crowd, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. A career-best haul of 4 for 17 saw him win the Player of the Match, and Siraj has hereby also thrown his hat in the ring for the Purple Cap with his nine wickets — second only to the ’ Noor Ahmed (10 wickets). 

Six of Siraj’s nine wickets have came in the powerplays, where he has been proving unplayable — victims include the dangerous and Abhishek Sharma on Sunday, the ’ , Ryan Rickelton, and Devdutt Padikkal of Royal Challengers Bangalore. Siraj’s unbridled joy in knocking over the Indian skipper’s stumps with the sharpest of inswingers did not escape the eyes of the viewers.  

“When you come to your home ground, it’s a special feeling. My family was there in the crowd and that lifted me up,” Siraj said at the post-match presentation.

Captain , his teammate from the Indian dressing room, chipped in jokingly that Siraj had asked for 60–70 tickets to oblige his family and friends.

 After a hat-trick of wins in IPL 2025, the Titans now look to continue the winning streak against the at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, 9 April — when Siraj will once again be expected to play a vital cog in the wheel.