Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], April 1 (ANI): Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, now a part of the Gujarat Titans (GT), had a heartwarming reunion with ex-Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) teammate and star batter Virat Kohli as the one-time champions prepare to take on the Red and Gold army at the bowler’s familiar grounds of M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
A red-hot RCB, who secured two comprehensive wins in their first two away games against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK), will be playing Shubman Gill-led GT in their first home game of the season on Wednesday. GT have had a mixed start to the tournament with a win and a loss each. During the win over Mumbai Indians (MI), the five-time champions, Siraj opened his wicket tally for GT with a brilliant spell of 2/34 in four overs.
A video from the official X handle of RCB saw Siraj sharing an emotional hug with Virat, who he credits for giving him plenty of backing and game time during his tough days. He also reunited with skipper Rajat Patidar, pacer Yash Dayal, head coach Andy Flower, and Director of Cricket Mo Bobat.
“The nights change fast but the bond remains intact. Once an RCBian, always an RCBian!,” posted RCB on their X handle.
https://x.com/RCBTweets/status/1907063546720235633
Siraj is not donning the Red and Gold colours of RCB this season after a seven-year-long stint with the franchise and one of his biggest supporters, Virat Kohli. After playing a season for Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in 2017, taking 10 wickets in six matches, Siraj was bought by RCB for Rs 2.6 crores, and he played 87 matches for them, picking 83 wickets at an average of 31.45, with the best figures of 4/21. He is RCB’s third-highest wicket-taker of all time, behind Harshal Patel (99) and Yuzvendra Chahal (139).
During his stint with RCB, Siraj experienced qualification to playoffs four times but could never win a trophy. The 2023 season was his best for RCB, taking 19 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 19.74 and an economy rate of 7.50, with best figures of 4/21.
In the last season, during which Siraj took 15 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 33.07, RCB experienced a memorable turnaround in the second half of the season. They went from winning only one of their first eight matches to winning six matches in a row to book a place in the playoffs. However, they lost to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the eliminator. (ANI)
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