Mohammed Siraj may be donning Gujarat Titans colours in IPL 2025, but the memories of his seven-season stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru and his bond with Virat Kohli remain strong. The GT pacer is one of the leading wicket-takers of IPL 2025 and has been outstanding with the new ball for the 2022 champions. In an interview with Cricbuzz, Siraj opened up about the faith Kohli showed in him during his time at RCB, even during tough patches. “I was at RCB for seven years, and I've witnessed many ups and downs. Virat Bhai (Kohli) gave me a lot of backing during that time. My success graph did dip there at times. Chinnaswamy is such a small ground, so it's not always easy for bowlers. But in one season, I returned an economy rate of seven, and in a way, I was enjoying my bowling there. I definitely enjoyed my stint at RCB.” Siraj explained how the challenges of bowling at the Chinnaswamy Stadium forced him to adapt and simplify his approach. “When I was with RCB, I knew there was a certain way to bowl at the Chinnaswamy. It's a small ground, so I focused on attacking the stumps as much as possible. I knew that trying too much could lead to leaking runs. By keeping it simple and targeting the stumps, I managed to pick up wickets.” “We’re having a lot of fun”: Siraj on Shubman Gill While RCB did not retain him ahead of the IPL 2025 mega auction, Siraj faced another major setback in his career when he could not make it to the Indian squad that went on to lift the ICC Champions Trophy recently. “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, focusing on improving and performing better. That has given me immense motivation.” Motivated by the setback, Siraj turned to trainer Soham Desai and doubled down on his fitness. “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.” Siraj also praised Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill for his calm leadership and faith in his bowlers. “Shubman is quite calm. We've been playing together for a long time and have grown up almost simultaneously in the cricketing world. We share a strong bond. He gives me the freedom to do what I want, and he doesn't take pressure. He stays calm on the field and always backs our decisions. For bowlers, having a captain who provides that kind of support is a big deal. It really helps us perform better. We're having a lot of fun.” Also Read: Watch: 14YO Vaibhav Suryavanshi in tears after 20-ball 34 on debut vs LSG Mohammad Siraj's Gujarat Titans currently sit at the top of the points table with five wins and two losses. They will return to action on Monday, where they will faec Kolkata Knight Riders.