Lying mid-table currently at No. 6, the Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to lift themselves up into the top half of the IPL 2023 leaderboard with a win against the Rajasthan Royals, and with the kind of form pacer Mohammed Siraj is in for RCB, he could once again be the side's trump card.
Former India cricketer Irfan Pathan has lavished praise on Siraj for bowling with renewed vigour, saying that the right-arm pacer is making the difference for RCB in the ongoing season.
"Mohammad Siraj has bowled excellently in the powerplay this season for RCB. He's really making a difference for them," Irfan said on Star Sports Cricket Live.
RCB host Rajasthan Royals in their 'Green Game' at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in the first match of the Sunday double-header, followed by Kolkata Knight Riders hosing the Chennai Super Kings at the Eden Gardens.
Having watched their team win their previous game, away from home, under the leadership of acting skipper Virat Kohli, Bengaluru fans will hope for an encore.
RCB put up a clinical show against Punjab Kings in their last game as their openers Faf du Plessis and Kohli put up an exhibition of strokeplay in Mohali.
However, it was Siraj who stole the show with his fiery bowling effort. The India speedster produced his best bowling figures (4/21) in the IPL and ran through Punjab's batting line-up.
"There is a big and positive difference in his bowling compared to last year," Irfan added. "That is why his responsibility has increased being the premier seamer in the team."
(With agency inputs)
