Vikram Solanki Backs Mohammed Siraj Amid Early Struggles
Vikram Solanki, the Director of Cricket Operations for the Gujarat Titans, recently expressed his confidence in fast bowler Mohammed Siraj, highlighting that players should not be judged too harshly after one or two poor performances. Siraj, who transitioned from the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to the Titans, faced a challenging start with figures of 0 wickets for 54 runs in his first match against the Punjab Kings (PBKS).
However, Siraj quickly turned things around, playing a crucial role in the Titans’ win over the Mumbai Indians (MI) with impressive bowling figures of 2 wickets for just 34 runs. He effectively showcased his skills against his former team, RCB, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, claiming 3 wickets for only 19 runs.
In a pre-match press conference ahead of the Titans’ game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), Solanki praised Siraj’s contributions. He said, "He’s been playing his role excellently. It’s not right to criticize him for early struggles. He’s performed beautifully when given the chance."
Solanki also noted that the expectations on young players can be overwhelming. "Sometimes we are too quick to judge their performances. Siraj has definitely shown his talent since joining us," he added.
As the IPL season continues, Siraj has taken five wickets in three matches, maintaining an economy rate of 8.91. He is also approaching a milestone, just two wickets away from reaching 100 in T20 tournaments.
Currently, the Gujarat Titans are in fourth place in the standings with four points and a net run rate of 0.807.
