Mohammed Siraj delivered a dream performance on home soil as he powered Gujarat Titans to a dominant win over SunRisers Hyderabad in their IPL 2025 clash on Sunday, April 6, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad. The local lad was the standout performer with the ball, picking up 4 crucial wickets and rightfully earning the Player of the Match award in front of a roaring home crowd that included his family and close friends.
It was an emotional and high-impact return to his hometown for Siraj, who was once a key member of the SunRisers Hyderabad squad. On Sunday, he showed just how far he has come by turning the tables on his former franchise. With the ball in hand, Siraj struck early and hard — removing Travis Head in the first over with a searing delivery that set the tone for GT. He didn’t stop there. He followed it up with the dismissal of Abhishek Sharma, who had been in explosive form this season, reducing SRH to a struggling 38 for 2 within the Powerplay.
Siraj then returned later in the innings with the old ball and continued to wreak havoc. He outsmarted Aniket Verma with clever variations and clean-bowled Simarjeet Singh, wrapping up a clinical spell with figures of 4 wickets, sparking celebrations in the Titans’ camp and in the stands where his family was cheering.
In the post-match presentation, Siraj's delight was palpable as he spoke about how special it was to perform in front of his family — something he doesn’t often get the chance to do. “When family comes and when you perform in front of your family and friends, it’s a different feeling altogether. I can’t describe that feeling. My family doesn’t travel to watch games. They come only here to see me in action. To perform in front of them is making me feel very good,” he said.
Gujarat Titans’ skipper Shubman Gill added a fun twist to the ceremony, teasing Siraj about his request for 60 to 70 tickets to accommodate his personal cheering squad. The camaraderie between the two players was evident when Gill jokingly asked if Siraj now saw himself as a "legend" of the IPL, following his milestone of 100 IPL wickets.
Siraj, who was left out of the Champions Trophy squad, has made a remarkable comeback in IPL 2025, silencing critics and reasserting his place as one of India’s premier fast bowlers. With 9 wickets in 4 games, he is currently joint-second in the race for the Purple Cap, just one behind Noor Ahmed of Chennai Super Kings.
Speaking about his form and mindset, Siraj said, “I’m looking to learn something new every day. I want to focus on playing my game, not think too much. I want to stay in the present and enjoy the game.”
His brilliance with the ball restricted SRH to 152 runs, which Gujarat Titans chased down with ease in 15.4 overs, thanks to a fluent half-century by Shubman Gill and a blistering 29-ball 49 from Washington Sundar. The Titans, who had stumbled in their season opener, have now bounced back with three back-to-back victories and have surged to second place on the IPL 2025 points table.
As the season progresses, Siraj's form and Gujarat's momentum could be key to their push for a playoff berth and possibly another title. With confidence, rhythm, and home support behind him, Mohammed Siraj's IPL 2025 journey is shaping up to be one of his finest yet.
