The Gujarat Titans (GT) are set to kick off their IPL 2025 campaign with a home clash against the Punjab Kings (PBKS). Leading the side will be India’s rising star, Shubman Gill, who, despite his youth, has already established himself as a dependable batter and a thoughtful leader. Gill’s captaincy skills have garnered praise from his teammates, most notably from Mohammed Siraj, the fiery pacer known for his impactful performances across all formats.

This will be Gill’s second stint as GT’s captain since their championship run in 2022. While fans and analysts are still gauging his leadership qualities, Siraj has no doubts about Gill’s capabilities. The pacer lauded the 26-year-old as a “bowler’s captain,” emphasizing Gill’s willingness to support his bowlers and grant them the freedom they need to execute their plans.

Reflecting on their shared journey, Siraj recalled their Test debuts in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in 2020 and the strong bond formed during those testing times.

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“Shubman is a very good captain, and he is a bowler’s captain. Whatever the bowlers ask for, he provides. He gives that freedom to the bowlers. Our relationship is good, and whenever Rishabh Pant, Shubman, Axar Patel, and I are together outside, we usually roam around and have dinner together. Our Test debut was also together (against Australia at Melbourne in 2020), which makes our connection even better,” Mohammed Siraj shared during an interview with Boria Majumdar.

For Siraj, this season marks a new chapter as he makes his debut for GT, his third IPL franchise after successful spells with Sunrisers Hyderabad and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The 29-year-old speedster is also excited to work under Ashish Nehra, the World Cup-winning pacer known for his calm demeanor and tactical acumen. Siraj’s admiration for Nehra’s approach is clear, yet the pacer remains true to his own aggressive, animated style on the field.

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“I get to learn a lot from him (Nehra). The way he stays calm is very important. But I do not like to stay calm. Shami bhai also played here and took a lot of wickets with the new ball. I aim to do the same—take early wickets and put my team ahead,” Mohammed Siraj remarked with his characteristic confidence.