In a bold shake-up ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made two major decisions — releasing skipper Faf du Plessis and parting ways with long-serving pace spearhead Mohammed Siraj. At the time, both moves raised eyebrows, especially the release of Siraj, who had become a key figure in the franchise since joining in 2017.
The South African opener’s departure left a leadership vacuum, briefly filled by Rajat Patidar before the team hit top form. However, it was Siraj’s exit that drew most attention. The Hyderabad pacer had given RCB seven solid years and was seen as part of their core group. His form and passion had never been in question.
In the auction, Siraj was picked up by Gujarat Titans for a hefty INR 12.25 crore. Fired up after being overlooked for India’s Champions Trophy squad, Siraj delivered a strong campaign, taking 16 wickets from 15 games. His standout moment came at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where he claimed 3 for 19 against his former side.
“It was emotional because I played for seven years here (for RCB). There was some nervousness and some emotion but the moment I got the ball in my hand, it was full-on,” Siraj said after the match.
At that point, RCB’s decision to release Siraj seemed questionable. But the franchise’s faith in a new direction soon bore fruit. RCB lifted their maiden IPL title in 2025, validating the tough calls made during the off-season.
RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, revealed that letting go of Siraj was one of their toughest deliberations. Speaking to Cricbuzz, Bobat said, “We were keen to try and get Bhuvi and we felt like hanging on to Siraj would make it difficult to get Bhuvi.”
Veteran seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar was bought for INR 10.75 crore and became a key cog in RCB’s revamped bowling unit. While his economy rate of 9.28 wasn’t ideal, Bhuvneshwar’s ability to bowl tough overs allowed others like Yash Dayal and Josh Hazlewood to thrive. He finished the season with 17 wickets at an average of 28, playing a crucial support role.
In the end, the decisions that once looked risky turned into masterstrokes. For a franchise that had long chased glory, RCB’s strategic shake-up finally delivered the ultimate reward: the IPL trophy.
