‘I have seen your tears’: Mohammed Siraj pens heartfelt tribute to RCB after IPL 2025 Auction snub | Cricket News
India pacer Mohammed Siraj has penned a heartfelt to tribute to Royal Challengers Bengaluru after the IPL 2025 Auction snub in Jeddah on Sunday.
RCB did not retain Siraj on the October 31 deadline and surprisingly did not opt to use their Right-to-Match (RTM) bid on the star India seamer after the 30-year-old spent six years with the franchise. Siraj was instead snapped up Gujarat Titans for Rs 12.25 crore on Day 1 of the auction process on Sunday, the same day India won the first Test against Australia in Perth.
Siraj penned a heartfelt post on Instagram in his tribute to the Bengaluru side on Tuesday, a day after the Mega Auction was concluded in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
“To my dear RCB, saat saal RCB ke saat mere dil ke bahut kareeb hai (the 7 years with RCB are close to my heart). As I take look back on my time in an RCB shirt my heart is full of gratitude, love and emotion. The day I first wore the RCB jersey, I never imagined the bond we would form. From the first ball I bowled in RCB colours, to every wicket taken, every match played, every moment shared with you, the journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. There have been ups and downs, but through it all, one thing has been constant: your unwavering support. RCB is more than just a franchise; it’s a feeling, a heartbeat, a family that feels like home,” Siraj wrote in an Instagram post.
“I have seen your tears when we’ve fallen short, and I’ve witnessed your celebrations when we’ve risen to the occasion. And let me tell you, there’s no fanbase in the world like you. Your love, your dedication, your loyalty—it’s something I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Siraj, who made his IPL debut in 2017 with SunRisers Hyderabad, moved to the RCB franchise and in turn became their third-highest wicket-taker with 83 scalps in 87 appearances. Siraj thanked the fans for their unwavering support to the franchise even as the time has failed to win the elusive title.
“There were nights when the losses hurt deeper than words can explain, but it was your voices in the stands, your messages on social media, your constant belief that kept me going. You, the fans of RCB, are the soul of this team. The energy you bring, the love you give, the faith you show, it’s unmatched,” he wrote.
The 2024 T20 World Cup winner will now forge a new strike partnership with the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna and Gerald Coetzee while RCB have realigned their seam attack with veterans Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood besides youngsters Yash Dayal and Rasikh Dar.
