Some friendships last forever irrespective of circumstances, situations, and even while playing for different franchises. Virat Kohli & Mohammed Siraj epitomize this bond to perfection. Despite the latter playing for Gujarat Titans (GT), Kohli greeted the pacer the same way as he always used to do when the duo played together for RCB ahead of their clash against GT at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
In a heartwarming video shared by RCB on social media, Kohli can be seen embracing the former RCB pacer with a warm hug. "The nights change fast, but the bond remains intact. Once an RCBian, always an RCBian!" the caption on the post read.
Mohammed Siraj's IPL Journey
For the unversed, Mohammed Siraj made his IPL debut for SRH in 2017 before shifting to RCB in 2018. It is here where the right-arm fast bowler truly blossomed as a cricketer under Kohli's captaincy. For seven years, Siraj donned the Red & Black jersey and was Kohli's go-to bowler in the power play and death overs.
Siraj's Performance for RCB
- Total Innings: 87
- Wickets taken: 83
- Economy: 8.60
- BBM: 4/21
- Maidens: 4
In fact, RCB's loyal fan base was upset with the franchise for not retaining Siraj ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction. RCB's three retentions were Kohli, Rajat Patidar, and Yash Dayal. While a lot of RCB fans feel Siraj is still upset with the RCB management over not retaining him, this video is clear proof that the pacer has moved on and is relishing playing for the new franchise GT.
Also Read: RCB vs GT Match Preview and Where to Watch Live? IPL 2025 Match 14
"I got very emotional when I wore the (Gujarat Titans) jersey for the first time. Having played for seven years for RCB, suddenly wearing another jersey got me emotional, initially. However, it doesn't feel like I have entered into a new franchise. The environment and freedom here are great for a player. And I am really excited about it, " he expressed in a video released on the IPL website.
