TOP STORIES
Siraj talks about Champions Trophy exclusion

Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has opened up about his omission from India’s Champions Trophy squad earlier this year. For the showpiece event co-hosted by Pakistan and Dubai, India had gone with pacers Mohammed Shami, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh, overlooking Siraj, who was in a bit of a struggling mode at that time. However, Siraj didn’t have any issue with being snubbed; instead, he devoted himself to rigorous training to further boost his skills. Siraj, meanwhile, maintained that he’s always dreamed of playing Champions Trophy.
“For a professional, an ICC event is incredibly important. It's every player's dream to win one. I've always dreamed of playing in the Champions Trophy and doing well for my country, but perhaps it wasn't written in my destiny. At first, it was difficult to reconcile, but I made peace with myself, focussing on improving and performing better. That has given me immense motivation,” Siraj was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
“I started concentrating on my fitness and running. I spoke to Soham Bhai (trainer Soham Desai), who guided me with a programme to work on my fitness. Soham Bhai has been a crucial support system for me, both in the past and present. When I first met him in 2018, I wasn't fully convinced by his methods. But he told me that to achieve big things, one has to sacrifice. I trusted his advice, and now, he knows my body better than I do."
Currently, Siraj is playing for Gujarat Titans in the IPL after being released by RCB. He is GT’s third-highest wicket-taker with 11 wickets in seven matches. Siraj was acquired by GT in the mega auction last year for ₹12.25 crores.
Tags
More News

Lord’s to host Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 final
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that Lord’s will host the final of the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on July 5, next year. Headingley, Old Trafford, Edgbaston, The Oval, the Hampshire Bowl and Bristol's County Ground will also be hosting the mega tournament.
The 12-team tournament, which begins on 12 Jun...

Glenn Maxwell out of IPL 2025 with finger injury
Punjab Kings’ all-rounder Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) with a finger injury in his right hand. Maxwell picked up the injury during a training session ahead of PBKS’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders.
“Glenn Maxwell has been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to a ...

Rahul Dravid underlines challenge for Vaibhav Suryavanshi
In a breathtaking display of audacity, 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who is playing for Rajasthan Royals, has catapulted himself into the annals of Indian Premier League history. The promising youngster blazed a 35-ball century, the second-fastest in the history of IPL. Facing the Gujarat Titans’ bowlers with a fearless approach, Suryavanshi unleashed a barrage of...

“He's a lot more confident”: Ricky Ponting lauds Shreyas Iyer
Punjab Kings’ head coach Ricky Ponting has lauded Shreyas Iyer’s leadership abilities following Punjab’s thumping four-wicket victory against Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday at Chepauk. Having worked closely with Iyer previously, Ponting feels that Iyer is demonstrating more confidence and maturity now. During the match, Iyer...

IPL 2025, RR vs MI: All you need to know, head to head, probable XII
Riding a wave of confidence, Mumbai Indians are set to take on Rajasthan Royals on Thursday at Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Mumbai Indians are entering this clash with remarkable momentum, having secured five consecutive victories. Their recent form has been bolstered by standout performances from both their batting and bowling units. Having started their campaign o...