Mohammed Siraj clearly enjoys the lighter side of cricket. During GT’s first trip to Dharamsala for their Qualifier 1 showdown against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the pace spearhead was more than happy to play photographer—helping teammates line up for the “perfect click” with the Himalayas serving as the dramatic backdrop.
Siraj’s Dharamsala “perfect frame” mood and why it matters
On the ground, Siraj appeared almost fixated on getting the ideal shot. At times, he nudged colleagues to shift slightly left or right, adjusting for how the light fell—like a man determined to control every detail. The playful focus, though, carried a serious undertone: with the new ball, Siraj has enjoyed a season that has looked about as complete as it gets.
Powerplay dominance: wickets, bowling impact and tournament effect
Siraj’s numbers explain the buzz around him. He has taken 13 wickets in the powerplay—his highest tally in that phase across an IPL season. In IPL 2026’s powerplay wicket race, only Kagiso Rabada and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have picked up more in the tournament so far.
That output has had a direct effect on Gujarat Titans’ overall bowling performance. GT have accumulated the most wickets (79) by any bowling unit in IPL 2026 this season, and Siraj’s new-ball strikes form a major part of that story.
- Siraj has 13 powerplay wickets in IPL 2026, the most in a single season for him in that phase.
- Those 13 wickets are the third-highest powerplay total in IPL 2026, behind Kagiso Rabada and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
- GT’s bowling unit has taken 79 wickets in the season—the highest by any bowling group.
Economy, late movement and the “two wickets” turning point
What makes Siraj’s powerplay work even more damaging is how efficiently he does it. He concedes at 7.53 runs per over in the phase, ranking second behind Bhuvneshwar Kumar (7.1) among bowlers who have delivered at least ten overs.
Beyond raw pace, the threat sits in the venom and the late swing/movement he generates, repeatedly unsettling batters even when conditions offer only minimal assistance. In cooler conditions—where the air can sharpen seam movement—Siraj’s late action could be a particularly tough assignment for RCB.
There’s also a ripple effect in GT’s broader powerplay control. Their powerplay economy rate stands at 9.2, the best in the tournament in that phase. And when GT manage to remove at least two batters within the first six overs, they have won eight of their nine matches. Much of that momentum is linked to Siraj’s role with the new ball, alongside his bowling partnership up front with Kagiso Rabada.
- Siraj’s powerplay economy: 7.53 runs per over (second-best among those with 10+ overs).
- GT’s powerplay economy rate: 9.2, the best in IPL 2026 for that phase.
- When GT take 2+ wickets in the first six overs, they have won 8 of 9 matches.
- Siraj’s impact in the opening overs is boosted by his partnership with Kagiso Rabada.
Inside the GT bowling partnership: Vijay Dahiya’s take and the balance behind the attack
GT assistant coach Vijay Dahiya summed up what sets Siraj’s season apart—not just the output, but the intent. He described Siraj as someone who channels his energy towards one clear goal, while also highlighting the “phenomenal” chemistry between Siraj and his bowling partner.
Dahiya stressed that the understanding runs deeper than the field. The two bowlers, he said, connect mentally and skill-wise, grasp how the game is unfolding, and know how to close out their overs in a way that supports the other end. He also pointed out that partnerships are often discussed mainly in batting, but GT’s bowling duo has a very strong pairing dynamic.
According to Dahiya, Ashish Nehra deserves significant credit for helping manage both bowlers effectively—especially since they come from different backgrounds and team environments. Still, Nehra has guided them to complement each other as top-class performers.
Much of this success, Dahiya suggested, comes from the overall balance GT maintain in their bowling plans. Shubman Gill is able to back Siraj aggressively because there are dependable safety nets behind him. Jason Holder’s control through the middle overs, combined with Rashid Khan’s ability to squeeze scoring, gives GT the confidence to attack early rather than hold back resources.
New-ball brief, standout spells and a resurgence that looks picture-perfect
Siraj’s role has been straightforward: strike with the new ball and take wickets even if it sometimes costs a few runs along the way. Captains do not hand that level of trust to a fast bowler unless they believe he can consistently tilt matches. Siraj has delivered that repeatedly.
Several spells have stood out. One came against Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Siraj was hit for six on the very first ball—something that will sound familiar to fans of the youngster, who has absorbed similar treatment from the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Pat Cummins and Lungi Ngidi. But Siraj’s response after that setback was the real statement.
On the next delivery, he landed a yorker with precision. The late tail-in ball clipped the 15-year-old’s toe and forced him to hobble. After troubling him with the fuller length, Siraj then sent down a bumper that cramped the batter for room. The miscued pull only found short fine leg, and Siraj’s roar and celebration after taking that wicket underlined how much that comeback meant.
That same aggressive rhythm showed up again against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk last week. He started with an outswinger to Sanju Samson on the first ball—there was an edge and the batter was gone. After earning Player of the Match recognition for a three-wicket haul that derailed CSK’s chase and affected their campaign, Siraj offered a brief but revealing remark: on red-soil, getting Samson to nick an outswinger is the ideal plan.
The comment mattered because bowlers tend to speak that way only when they feel fully aligned with their craft. It also hinted at a conviction that had briefly slipped away from Siraj in the preceding couple of seasons.
From 2024 doubts to a transformed 2025/26 season
The resurgence is even more striking when you compare it to how distant Siraj looked from this version of himself not too long ago. In 2024, his final season with RCB, he managed only three powerplay wickets while conceding close to ten runs an over. For a bowler expected to dominate the most punishing early phase—particularly at the Chinnaswamy, where early wickets often become the only reliable form of control—those returns felt below par.
RCB’s decision to retain Yash Dayal over him was not entirely surprising tactically, but it clearly affected Siraj. In his first season with GT in 2024/25, he took nine powerplay wickets and delivered a match-winning spell at the Chinnaswamy that visibly meant a lot to him. Even then, the overall impression was that he was rebuilding confidence after a slightly uneven Australia tour that came before the IPL.
This season has felt different. Siraj has repeatedly turned his opening spell into a major talking point. The ball appears to move late, his lengths have become fuller, and—most importantly—there’s a clear sense that he is enjoying how the ball is coming out of his hand. Overall, it’s been looking picture-perfect.
