'We were keen to try and get Bhuvneshwar Kumar' - RCB director explains reason behind not retaining Mohammed Siraj

Mohammed Siraj spent seven years at Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), accounting for 99 wickets across 102 matches for the franchise. However, the 31-year-old wasn't retained ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction. Gujarat Titans acquired the services of the right-arm pacer at the auction for INR 12.25 crore.

RCB fans were not pleased to see the team management letting Siraj go, as they felt that the Hyderabad speedster had given his best efforts in every season. Siraj bagged 16 wickets from 15 games in IPL 2025, including a four-for against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Now, however, RCB's director of cricket, Mo Bobat, has revealed the thought process behind letting the experienced fast bowler go.

"Siraj is probably the player that we spent the longest deliberating over," said Bobat in an interview with Cricbuzz.

"Indian international bowlers aren't that easy to get. We spent a lot of time weighing up whether we wanted to retain him, release him, would we consider trying to go back for him at the auction, is he a Right To Match? We discussed every eventuality with him," Bobat revealed.

We were keen to try and get Bhuvi: Mo Bobat

Bobat explained that RCB were more keen to rope in Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who could help them by doing well with the new ball as well as in the back end.

"We were keen to try and get Bhuvi (for two ends of the innings) and we felt like hanging on to Siraj would make it difficult to get Bhuvi, so that was something that we thought about as well. A number of things come into it, it's never just one reason," Bobat reasoned.

RCB eventually got Australian speedster Josh Hazlewood for INR 12.50 crore and veteran Indian pacer Bhuvneshwar for INR 10.75 crore. They bagged 22 wickets (12 matches) and 17 wickets (14 matches), respectively.

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Bobat also revealed that Australian all-rounder Cameron Green's long-term injury was the only reason for not retaining him.

"Had he been fit, we would almost certainly have retained Cameron Green," Bobat said.