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Among the teams looking to break their title drought is the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). With the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction approaching and new retention rules announced, franchises must carefully plan their strategies to build solid squads.
Despite boasting world-class players and three final appearances, RCB are yet to claim the IPL trophy. With the option to retain a maximum of six players using the traditional retention method and Right to Match (RTM) cards, Bengaluru face crucial decisions regarding their core group, including whether to retain their star pacer Mohammed Siraj.
Siraj has been an integral part of RCB’s bowling attack, known for his ability to provide crucial breakthroughs in high-pressure situations. Joining the team in 2018, Siraj has consistently delivered for RCB, especially during the 2024 season, where he picked up 15 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 33.07.
Despite RCB’s early struggles last season, Siraj contributed significantly to their late resurgence that saw them secure a playoff spot. The question now is whether RCB should retain Siraj ahead of IPL 2025, making him either a first-choice retention or opting to use the RTM card for him in the auction.
RCB's case for retaining Mohammed Siraj
Among the key reasons for retaining Mohammed Siraj is the value of having an experienced Indian fast bowler in the team. Having quality Indian pacers is an important aspect of any IPL franchise.
Siraj, though on and off, delivered in the 2024 season under pressure. Over the years, he has shown significant improvement in both red-ball and white-ball formats, making him a dependable bowler.
Going by his numbers in the IPL, Siraj has made evident growth. The 2023 season brought out his best performance in the league to date, where he picked up 19 wickets from 14 games with best figures of 4/21. He also maintained an impressive average of 19.79 and an economy rate of 7.52. His strike-rate of 15.79 was also among the best for RCB bowlers that season.
In the 2022 season, he managed to pick up only nine wickets but bounced back in 2023.
Looking at his record for the franchise, retaining Siraj would give RCB a steady individual who can lead their pace attack. Given their struggles with bowling throughout the years, having stability with an experienced Indian pacer who has been a part of their setup for a long time now is key.
Mohammed Siraj has been with the team for as many as seven seasons now and is a senior figure in the unit along with Virat Kohli. With Virat being an obvious retention, Siraj could slot in as the second or third choice as the franchise requires a reliable Indian pacer, who also knows their setup inside out.
RTM or first-choice retention?
Siraj's value to the team is certainly unquestionable. However, the Bengaluru franchise also has several other key players who are contenders for retention. The likes of Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, Indian batter Rajat Patidar who has been a sensation for them, along with Will Jacks who impressed last season are top candidates.
It will also be interesting to see if the team opts to retain present skipper Faf du Plessis and the explosive Glenn Maxwell. Given the competition for limited retention spots, it is also possible that the franchise might just look at trying to bring Siraj back using the RTM card.
Using the RTM card could allow them to buy Siraj back at a lower cost during the auction as they would want to use their top retention slots for players like Virat, Rajat, and Green.
Mohammed Siraj has undoubtedly been a performer for the team, making a strong case for his retention. Whether the side retains him outrightly or goes for the RTM option, Siraj's presence in the lineup will be crucial as they aim to end their title drought in the upcoming seasons. Retaining a quality Indian pacer like Siraj, who is also a regular in the national setup, will certainly hold the key to their balance.
