Royal Challengers Bengaluru ( RCB ) finally ended their 18-year wait for an Indian Premier League (IPL) title in 2025. The breakthrough came in the very first season of the new three-year cycle after the mega auction. RCB built a fresh core with major signings like Josh Hazlewood , Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Phil Salt, while parting ways with big names such as Glenn Maxwell and Mohammed Siraj .
Speaking to Cricbuzz, RCB’s director of cricket Mo Bobat revealed the thinking behind letting Siraj go. “Siraj is probably the player that we spent the longest deliberating over,” he admitted.
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The fast bowler had been part of RCB for seven years, taking 99 wickets in 102 matches. But the management decided not to retain him before the 2025 auction. “Indian international bowlers are not that easy to get. We discussed every eventuality with Siraj, whether to retain him, release him, or use the Right to Match. It was not a straightforward call,” Bobat explained.
Eventually, RCB secured Hazlewood for Rs 12.50 crore and Bhuvneshwar for Rs 10.75 crore, while Siraj went to Gujarat Titans for Rs 12.25 crore. Bobat admitted that Bhuvneshwar’s ability to bowl both with the new ball and at the death tilted the decision. “We were keen to try and get Bhuvi for two ends of the innings. Keeping Siraj would have made that difficult. There is never just one reason, several factors come into play,” he said.
Siraj had a steady season with 16 wickets in 15 matches for Gujarat, while Bhuvneshwar struck 17 times and played a crucial role in RCB’s title run. Hazlewood stood out as the tournament’s leading bowler with 22 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of under nine.
Bobat also revealed that Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was not retained only because of injury. “Had he been fit, we would almost certainly have retained him,” he confirmed.
Speaking to Cricbuzz, RCB’s director of cricket Mo Bobat revealed the thinking behind letting Siraj go. “Siraj is probably the player that we spent the longest deliberating over,” he admitted.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
The fast bowler had been part of RCB for seven years, taking 99 wickets in 102 matches. But the management decided not to retain him before the 2025 auction. “Indian international bowlers are not that easy to get. We discussed every eventuality with Siraj, whether to retain him, release him, or use the Right to Match. It was not a straightforward call,” Bobat explained.
Eventually, RCB secured Hazlewood for Rs 12.50 crore and Bhuvneshwar for Rs 10.75 crore, while Siraj went to Gujarat Titans for Rs 12.25 crore. Bobat admitted that Bhuvneshwar’s ability to bowl both with the new ball and at the death tilted the decision. “We were keen to try and get Bhuvi for two ends of the innings. Keeping Siraj would have made that difficult. There is never just one reason, several factors come into play,” he said.
Siraj had a steady season with 16 wickets in 15 matches for Gujarat, while Bhuvneshwar struck 17 times and played a crucial role in RCB’s title run. Hazlewood stood out as the tournament’s leading bowler with 22 wickets in 12 matches at an economy of under nine.
Bobat also revealed that Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was not retained only because of injury. “Had he been fit, we would almost certainly have retained him,” he confirmed.
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