Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Mohammed Siraj played through severe stomach pain in their IPL match against Gujarat Titans (GT) on Saturday, driven by the desire to prepare for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Despite his discomfort, Siraj delivered a crucial performance, taking 2/29 and helping RCB secure a four-wicket victory.
Siraj revealed that he experienced intense stomach pain and loose motions before the game, but the thought of the World Cup and the “power of the almighty” motivated him to take the field. He acknowledged that he lacked the energy to bowl at his usual intensity, but he credited divine intervention for his performance.
In 10 IPL 2024 matches, Siraj has claimed eight wickets at an average of 44.00, with a best of 2/26. He also discussed his close bond with Virat Kohli, emphasizing how Kohli’s guidance and communication help him as a bowler.
“Virat has known me for eight years now and he always gives handy advice on what to do in a particular situation,” Siraj said. “When you have good communication with such a legend of the game then half the difficulty gets reduced straightaway as a bowler.”
Siraj praised teammate Yash Dayal for his impressive bowling with the new ball, noting that his performance will boost his confidence. Dayal has taken 10 wickets in 10 IPL 2024 matches, with a best of 2/21.
In the match, RCB elected to field first and restricted GT to 148 runs, with Siraj, Dayal, and Vijaykumar Vyshak taking two wickets each. RCB then chased down the target with 38 balls to spare, thanks to a 92-run opening partnership between Faf Du Plessis and Virat Kohli.
Despite a late fightback from GT’s Joshua Little and Noor Ahmed, RCB held on for the victory, with Dinesh Karthik and Swapnil Singh guiding the team home.
