'Best surprise of my life' - Mohammed Siraj recalls how Virat Kohli had stunned him

Mohammed Siraj was one of the three retentions of the Royal Challengers Bangalore for IPL 2022 along with the likes of former skipper Virat Kohli and Australian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell. Siraj was offered a sum of INR 7 crore for the upcoming season. The promising pacer has been an integral part of RCB since the 2018 edition and has played under Kohli for the last four seasons. Over the years. he has also gone on to improve and become one of their key death overs specialists.

Meanwhile, the Hyderabad pacer has revealed how Kohli had taken him by surprise by making an unexpected entry into his residence after initially having declined to come due to a stiff back. However, when the batting megastar did make it along with other RCB teammates, Mohammed Siraj’s joy knew no bounds as he straightaway ran towards him and hugged him.

I just ran towards Virat Bhaiya and hugged him: Mohammed Siraj

“I had invited everyone from RCB to my house for dinner. I went home straight from the hotel. When I called him (Virat) up, he said “I have a stiff back miyan, I can’t come,” said Siraj while speaking on The RCB Podcast.

“I told him to rest. What more could I say. But, when everyone came, I saw him get off the car. Everyone was there, PP (Parthiv Patel) Bhai, Chahal Bhai. I just ran towards Bhaiya (Virat) and hugged him. It was the best surprise of my life. Because Bhaiya (Virat) had said he won’t come. It became news, Virat Kohli has come to Toli Chowki”, he added.

The India pacer would be looking forward to sharing the new ball with Australian pace sensation Josh Hazlewood in the 15th edition of the marquee tournament that is expected to get underway in March end. Siraj would also be getting some much-needed support from the likes of medium-pacer Harshal Patel, Australian quick Jason Behrendorrf, Siddharth Kaul, England left-arm pacer David Willey, etc. this time around.

With a rebuilt squad, the three-time finalists would now be hoping to go all the way as their hunt for a maiden IPL crown continues.