Mohammed Siraj was an integral part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for most of his IPL career. The pacer initially started his journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) before making the switch to RCB in 2018. Over the years, he established himself as a key bowler for the franchise. However, ahead of the 2025 IPL mega auction, RCB decided to release him, and Gujarat Titans (GT) secured his services in the bidding war. On Wednesday, Siraj made his much-anticipated return to M Chinnaswamy Stadium, this time in GT colors. The pacer delivered a match-winning performance against his former team. His impressive spell of 3/19 played a crucial role in GT’s eight-wicket victory over RCB. Speaking to the broadcasters after his match-winning performance, Siraj admitted that stepping onto the field in Bengaluru, but for a different team, was an emotional experience. "I was a little emotional, because I played for seven years in the red jersey here. Now it's a different colour. I was a little nervous and a little emotional, too. But as soon as I started bowling, I was focussed," he said. Siraj played a significant role for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, bowling over 120 overs. However, despite his efforts, he was not selected for the ICC Champions Trophy squad. Indian captain Rohit Sharma had previously pointed out that Siraj needed to improve his death-over bowling to strengthen his case for selection. "I was playing matches consistently, so, I wasn't realising the mistakes I was making. I took a break and focused on my fitness and bowling. It also helped mentally," he said. He also credited Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra for instilling confidence in him. "When I joined GT, I spoke to Ashu [Ashish Nehra] bhai. So everything is coming out well and I am confident. Ashu bhai tells me to go out and have fun. There's no bigger confidence-booster than that," he added. 'Most important thing is to have the belief' Siraj was the key difference-maker for GT on Wednesday, striking early to dismiss Devdutt Padikkal before removing Phil Salt. New Season πNew Team π€But the 'πππͺπͺπͺπ§ππ πππ‘πππ§ππ©ππ€π£' does not change πUpdates βΆ https://t.co/teSEWkXnMj #TATAIPL | #RCBvGT | @mdsirajofficial pic.twitter.com/VfvK4ZC20i — IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 2, 2025 In the fifth over, Salt smashed a massive 105-meter six off Siraj. However, the pacer made a strong comeback on the very next delivery, dismissing Salt. Also Read: IPL 2025: CSK calls up 17YO Mumbai batter for mid-season trails Discussing his approach to bouncing back after conceding big hits, Siraj emphasized the importance of self-belief. "I have only one mindset that as a bowler, it is very important to have belief. If you don't have belief, then obviously you will panic from inside. Then when you hit a six, then you tend to try something else. So, the most important thing is to have the belief that I can do it. No matter which wicket I am bowling on, I have belief. That is my mindset that I can do it," he said. With this win, GT became the fourth team in the tournament to secure two victories. They remain in the fourth position on the points table. Meanwhile, RCB, who were previously at the top, have now dropped to third.