Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has given a nod to Mohammed Siraj, saying he could’ve grabbed another wicket if he bowled four overs straight. Sehwag appreciated the passion Siraj showed, especially after being let go by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru and missing out on the Champions Trophy team.
In his game against Bengaluru, Siraj displayed pace, precision, and determination, which caught Sehwag’s eye. He noted that Siraj looked sharper not just because he was up against Bengaluru, but also because of his disappointment from not making it to the Champions Trophy squad.
Sehwag said, He kept his record with the new ball at Chinnaswamy, giving away only 12 or 13 runs in the first three overs. He could have bowled the fourth over too and maybe taken another wicket. He added, He has that passion. I sense he’s hurt for not being in the Champions Trophy squad, and I saw that fire in him. That’s what we want from a young fast bowler.
After not being kept by RCB for IPL 2025, Siraj made his presence felt in his first game back at M Chinnaswamy Stadium. After an early four from Virat Kohli, he came back strong, striking out Devdutt Padikkal for just four runs and then getting Phil Salt out with a brilliant delivery that broke the off stump.
Siraj later shared that his time off from international cricket helped him reflect on his game, focusing on his skills and fitness. After a disappointing Test tour in Australia earlier this year, he was left out of the Champions Trophy squad. I was playing a lot, so I didn’t realize the mistakes I was making. During the break, I worked on my bowling and fitness, Siraj said after the match. He also sought advice from former Indian pacer and coach Ashish Nehra after joining the Gujarat team.