Mohammed Siraj spent seven years with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), taking 99 wickets in 102 matches. However, the 31-year-old was not retained prior to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. The Gujarat Titans paid INR 12.25 crore at the auction for the right-arm pacer.
RCB fans were disappointed to see the team administration let Siraj go, as they believed the Hyderabad speedster had given his all in every season. Siraj took 16 wickets in 15 games in the IPL 2025, including a four-for against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
However, RCB’s director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has disclosed the reasoning behind releasing the veteran fast bowler.
We were keen to try and get Bhuvi: Mo Bobat
Bobat explained that RCB were more keen to rope in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who could help them by doing well with the new ball as well as in the back end.
“We were keen to try and get Bhuvi (for two ends of the innings) and we felt like hanging on to Siraj would make it difficult to get Bhuvi, so that was something that we thought about as well. A number of things come into it, it’s never just one reason,” Bobat reasoned.
RCB eventually got Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood for INR 12.50 crore and veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar for INR 10.75 crore. They bagged 22 wickets (12 matches) and 17 wickets (14 matches), respectively.
Bobat also revealed that Australian all-rounder Cameron Green long-term injury was the only reason for not retaining him.
“Had he been fit, we would almost certainly have retained Cameron Green,” Bobat said.
India
