Mohammed Siraj has not been in best of forms in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 qualifier. From 15 matches Siraj has been able to take just nine wickets. However, the bigger reason for (Royal Challengers Bangalore) RCB’s worries is the rate at which he has leaked runs and the boundaries he has conceded at crucial junctures of the game. While RCB managed to qualify for the playoffs, Siraj got two unwanted records in his name.
Siraj became the first bowler to concede 30 or more sixes in a single IPL season. In the clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR), Siraj was hit for three sixes in the powerplay overs, two from Yashasvi Jaiswal's bat and one by Jos Buttler. The RCB speedster broke Dwayne Bravo’s record of conceding 29 sixes in a single season. In the 2018 edition, Bravo was hit for 29 sixes.
The Caribbean all-rounder was also surpassed by RCB leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga who was hit for two sixes in the qualifier clash. Hasaranga has been hit for 30 sixes in the ongoing season now. He is followed by Yuzvendra Chahal who has conceded 28 sixes sixes in the 2015 edition.
On the other hand, Siraj created another record after conceding 31 runs in two overs during fielding restrictions. The 28-year-old has conceded runs at 10.23 runs per over. Previously, the unwanted record belonged to Basil Thampi who conceded runs at 9.35 runs per over in the 2017 edition. Thampi is followed by Mohit Sharma (9 runs per over in 2015) and New Zealand speedster Kyle Jamieson (8.94 runs per over in 2021).
Siraj was retained for Rs 7 crore by the Bangalore-based franchise before the IPL 2022 mega auctions. Many questioned the move as they could have easily retained someone like Harshal Patel, for whom they ended up paying way more (Rs 10.75 crore) at the auctions. Similarly, Yuzvendra Chahal would have been a good retention after his performance in UAE leg of IPL 2021.
