New Delhi: Star India pacer Mohammed Siraj has found himself a new home in the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he was bought by Gujarat Titans (GT) for Rs. 12.25 crore at the mega auction held in Jeddah on Sunday and Monday. Siraj, who played for Royals Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) previously, was shockingly released by the franchise ahead of the mega auction and wasn’t retained during the event as well, bringing an end to their long seven-year journey.
Siraj was a part of the RCB outfit from 2018 to 2024, making the Chinnaswamy stadium his second home. His exploits at the franchise and his camaraderie with RCB stalwart Virat Kohli are well-versed as fans loved the duo for their aggressiveness, taking on the opposition with all they had got. Siraj, who also recently turned a DSP, posted a long emotional message on his social media handles alongside a special video that depicted his time at the franchise.
The video had the slow version of the hit Bollywood song “Saware” from the movie “Phantom” featuring Siraj and his time at RCB. The impact of the song and Siraj’s bonding with the team over the years left fans teary-eyed as they filled the comment section with heartfelt goodbyes and wished Siraj luck for his new tenure at the GT. Even RCB itself took it to its social media handle, thanking Siraj for his services and calling him an RCBian forever.
Here’s the post by Siraj –
View this post on Instagram
“As I take look back on my time in an RCB shirt my heart is full of gratitude, love and emotion. The day I first wore the RCB jersey, I never imagined the bond we would form. From the first ball I bowled in RCB colours, to every wicket taken, every match played, every moment shared with you, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary,” Siraj wrote
“Every time I stepped onto that field, I felt the weight of your dreams and hopes, and I gave it my all because I knew you were right there behind me, pushing me to be better. I have seen your tears when we’ve fallen short, and I’ve witnessed your celebrations when we’ve risen to the occasion. Though I now step into a new chapter of my career, RCB will always have a piece of my heart,” he concluded.
RCB bids goodbye to Siraj
Even RCB didn’t shy away from bidding farewell to one of the star players in the IPL who shone for them at crucial moments in each of the seven seasons he played for them. Posting a special picture with Siraj’s photos in RCB jersey from 2018 to 2024, the franchise wrote, “Thank you for your service, DSP Siraj. You were a star for us on and off the field, and on social media too. And we’ll always love you. See you on the flipside.”
Thank you for your service, DSP Siraj. 🫡
You were a star for us on and off the field, and on social media too. And we’ll always love you. ❤
See you on the flipside. 🥺@mdsirajofficial | #PlayBold #OurRCB pic.twitter.com/jSeYqFEhbl
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) November 26, 2024
Siraj will now represent Gujarat Titans in IPL 2025 as he became one of their top picks at the mega auction besides Jos Buttler who was bought for a massive Rs. 15.75 crore and Kagiso Rabada who was sold to GT for Rs. 10.75 crore. Also in their squad is Prasidh Krishna, for whom the franchise leaked Rs. 9.5 crore.
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