The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have addressed the release of their star bowler, Mohammed Siraj, before the IPL 2025 mega auction. RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, provided insights into the strategic considerations that led to this decision. Siraj, who had been a part of RCB for seven years and delivered strong performances, now plays for Gujarat Titans.
Mo Bobat outlined that RCB’s goal was to build a balanced and versatile bowling attack capable of succeeding in various match conditions. The team’s interest in adding Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose experience and swing bowling prowess were seen as valuable assets for RCB’s game plan, was also a key factor. Bobat made it clear that keeping Siraj would have complicated the acquisition of Bhuvneshwar, necessitating a careful balancing of budget and player preferences during the auction process.
In an interview with Cricbuzz, Bobat mentioned, ‘Siraj was likely the player we gave the most consideration to. It’s not easy to find Indian international bowlers. We considered every possible scenario with Siraj, including retention, release, and the right-to-match option. The decision wasn’t simple. We aimed to incorporate Bhui at both ends of the innings, and keeping Siraj would have made it challenging. Multiple factors influenced the decision, not just one single reason.’
Furthermore, Bobat disclosed that the Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was not retained due to injury. He stated, ‘Had he been fit, we would almost certainly have retained him.’