Bengaluru: An emotional Siraj stopped his run-up as he was up against his close aid and former IPL team-mate Virat Kohli on Wednesday.During a clash between Gujarat Titans and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Mohammed Siraj was given the ball for the first over. Phil Salt, opening the batting took a single off the first ball, giving the strike to Virat.Starting his run-up Siraj looked uncomfortable and stopped midway. Virat Kohli immediately acknowledged and raised his hand. Gujarat Titans skipper Shubhman Gill too, had realised the emotion, and gave a subtle smile as the camera shifted towards him. However, he dealt with it and bowled the first ball, which was smashed for a four by Virat.Nevertheless, Siraj was named Player of the Match for his brilliant 3/19 against his former team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he played for seven years.”I was a bit emotional. After seven years, I changed my jersey from red to blue. But once I had the ball in hand, I was fine. I’m a Ronaldo fan, so that’s why the celebration,” the Hyderabad-based player said at the presentation ceremony.Siraj said that his break from international cricket gave him the time to reflect on his mistakes and work on his bowling and fitness.Following a lacklustre Test tour of Australia earlier this year, Siraj was left out of India’s Champions Trophy squad.”I was playing matches consistently, so was not realising the mistakes I was making. In the break, focused on my bowling, on my fitness,” Siraj said.After linking up with the Gujarat Titans squad, the 31-year-old also sought advice from former India pacer and GT coach Ashish Nehra.”When I joined GT, I spoke to Ashu bhai and the ball is coming out nicely now. He asked me to just enjoy myself and do whatever I wanted.”I talk to them (Rabada, Ishant and other bowling partners) and get feedback which is really helpful. As a bowler, I want to always have belief – that is an important thing.”If that is not there, you panic (when you get hit). I have belief that I can do well, irrespective of wherever I am playing and that is my mindset,” he added.GT captain Shubman Gill was delighted with his team’s big win.”Restricting them to 170 was a great effort on this ground. Sometimes, you can score 250 here, and other times, the fast bowlers get assistance in the first 7-8 overs. We knew that early wickets would keep us in the game,” Gill said.Meanwhile, RCB captain Rajat Patidar admitted that losing early wickets cost them dearly.RCB’s star-studded top-order crumbled against GT’s pace attack in the first seven overs.”Not 200, we were targeting around 190 after the powerplay, but losing early wickets harmed this match. I think the intent was good, but we shouldn’t have lost as many as three wickets in the powerplay, it was one wicket too many.””The way Jitesh, Liam Livingstone, and Tim David, the way they batted, it was a positive for us. We’re confident about the batting line-up, they’re showing some positive intent which is very good for us,” Patidar said.
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