RCB Releases Siraj for IPL 2025 Auction

The IPL 2025 mega auction is scheduled to take place on November 24 and 25, 2025, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This event is expected to be one of the most exciting in the world of cricket this year. As franchises prepare for this significant event, an unexpected announcement has come from RCB. The reigning champions of IPL 2025 have opted not to retain Mohammed Siraj. At the same time the franchise decided to pursue seasoned pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood.

Unexpected news

The 30-year-old Siraj leaves RCB with a tally of 99 wickets in 102 clashes (seven seasons). His 2025 campaign was particularly notable. The cricketer claimed 16 scalps in 15 clashes, including a four-wicket spell against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). For now, Siraj is one of the league’s most reliable death bowlers. He will now play for Gujarat Titans (GT), which he joined for ₹12.25 crore.

Balancing priorities

RCB’s Director of Cricket, Mo Bobat, acknowledged the difficulty of the decision in an interview with Cricbuzz. According to him, the franchise’s dilemma stemmed from the scarcity of elite Indian fast bowlers in the auction pool. Retaining Siraj via the Right to Match (RTM) card, Bobat said, could have complicated their bid for Bhuvneshwar, whose versatility to bowl at the start and end of innings was deemed critical.

This strategy paid off as RCB successfully secured Bhuvneshwar for his ability to adapt to varying phases of the game. The team also signed Australia’s Josh Hazlewood for ₹12.50 crore. Together, these cricketers contributed 39 wickets in IPL 2025.