Mohammed Siraj produced a fiery spell for Gujarat Titans against Sunrisers Hyderabad, ripping through his former franchise with a sensational 4/17 at the Uppal Stadium – his home turf in domestic cricket. The performance not only handed GT a comprehensive seven-wicket win, but also saw Siraj etch his name in the record books with his best-ever IPL figures and his 100th IPL wicket.
Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj admitted that being excluded from India’s ICC Champions Trophy 2025 squad took a toll on him emotionally. Once a regular in the ODI setup, Siraj was overlooked as the selectors opted for a spin-heavy squad, picking only two frontline pacers – Mohammed Shami and Harshit Rana. While Shami featured in all matches, Rana played only two.
Opening up after a recent match-winning performance, Siraj said, “It was difficult to digest not being selected. But playing at my home ground gave me a special feeling. My family was there in the stands — that really lifted my spirits.”
Siraj credited his support system for helping him bounce back from self-doubt and turning his frustration into motivation on the field.
“Being with the Indian team consistently, you naturally start questioning yourself when you’re dropped. That doubt does creep in,” Siraj admitted. “But I motivated myself and shifted focus to the IPL. When you’re not selected, you do wonder if you’re still good enough, but I stayed committed to being ready.”
“When your plans work out on the field—when you can move the ball both ways and execute instinctively—it brings a different kind of confidence. That’s what keeps you going at the top level.”
