Mohammed Siraj represented Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for seven years. The Indian fast bowler recently opened up about his strong bond with batting icon Virat Kohli. Siraj revealed that Kohli consistently supported him during difficult times in his career. The two shared many seasons together at RCB and also played numerous matches for Team India under Kohli’s captaincy.
Siraj last featured for India in the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he picked up 20 wickets in five matches. Despite his efforts, India lost the series 3-1 to Australia, and Siraj faced criticism for his inconsistent performances with the ball.
Although a regular presence in India’s ODI squad for several years, Siraj was left out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Instead, young pacers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana earned call-ups alongside veteran Mohammed Shami. The Indian team, under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, went on to lift the trophy by defeating New Zealand in the final.
Mohammed Siraj: “Virat Bhaiya Supported Me A Lot
In a recent chat with Cricbuzz, Mohammed Siraj opened up about the strong bond he shares with Virat Kohli. The pacer revealed how Kohli has consistently stood by him during difficult times in his career. Siraj mentioned that under Kohli’s captaincy both in the IPL and for Team India he always felt backed, especially for his aggressive approach on the field.
“Virat bhaiya gave me a lot of backing and support during my tough phases. I’ve seen many ups and downs, but he always stood by me when I was going through rough patches,” the 31-year-old said.
For years, Siraj and Kohli were among the most recognizable faces of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) franchise. However, ahead of the IPL 2025 season, RCB chose not to retain Siraj. While Kohli remains with the Bengaluru-based side, Siraj moved to the Gujarat Titans (GT). Despite representing different franchises this season, both players have been in excellent form.
Kohli currently leads the scoring charts for RCB, amassing 249 runs from seven innings, which includes three half-centuries. Meanwhile, Siraj has impressed with the ball for GT, taking 11 wickets in seven matches at an economy rate of 8.96 including a standout four-wicket haul in one fixture.
