Indian fast bowler Mohammed Siraj has officially arrived in Ahmedabad to join his new Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Gujarat Titans (GT), ahead of IPL 2025. Siraj’s first match for GT will take place on March 25, when GT face Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This opening fixture will be a crucial test for GT as they look to build a strong campaign under Shubman Gill’s captaincy. The franchise, which won the IPL title in 2022 and finished as runners-up in 2023, will be aiming to reclaim the trophy in IPL 2025.
Mohammed Siraj joins Gujarat Titans for IPL 2025
Siraj who was a key figure in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) setup from 2018 to 2024, is now set for a new journey with the Shubman Gill-led Gujarat Titans. Siraj was acquired by GT for a whopping INR 12.25 crore in the IPL 2025 auction, making him one of the biggest signings of the season. The Hyderabad-born speedster will be a crucial part of GT’s bowling attack, which also features Prasidh Krishna, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Rashid Khan. Upon his arrival, GT’s social media team welcomed him through their ‘Carversations’ series, where players share their thoughts while traveling from the airport to the team hotel. Siraj shared a hilarious and heartwarming story about his first reaction to being picked by GT, involving his new captain, Gill.
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Shubman Gill’s unique welcome for Siraj
Siraj revealed that during the IPL 2025 auction, he was in Australia as part of the Indian squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2025. Gill, who was also a part of that series, was staying in the hotel room right next to Siraj. As soon as Siraj’s name was announced in the auction, Gill couldn’t contain his excitement. However, what followed next was even more amusing.
“Shubman’s room was right next to mine. As soon as my name was announced, he kept knocking. He was telling me, ‘Don’t worry, now you’re definitely coming to GT, don’t stress. When I got picked by GT, he was taking a shower. Towel bandh ke mere paas aaya! (He came to me with just a towel wrapped around him!) He hugged me and said, ‘Welcome to the GT family!,” Siraj said.
This fun interaction highlights the camaraderie between the two Indian stars, as they now gear up to lead Gujarat into the 2025 IPL season.
Siraj on Shubman Gill ⚡#cricket #ShubmanGill #Siraj #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/HuOa4i0hik
— Aman (@Amanriz78249871) March 11, 2025
Siraj’s IPL journey: A new chapter with GT
Siraj has been one of India’s top fast bowlers in recent years, but IPL 2025 marks a fresh start for him, as it will be the first time since 2017 that he will play for a franchise other than RCB.
Here’s a look at Siraj’s IPL career stats so far:
- Matches Played: 93
- Wickets Taken: 93
- Best Figures: 4/21
- Economy Rate: 8.45
However, Siraj had a challenging IPL 2024 season, struggling with form and consistency, which led RCB to release him ahead of the mega auction. Despite this, Gujarat saw immense potential in his experience and skill set, making a bold move to sign him for INR 12.25 crore. GT’s decision to bring in Siraj is part of their strategy to revamp their fast-bowling unit.
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