Out front stood Jason Holder, Gujarat Titans’ all-rounder, tipping his cap toward Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada – early pressure from them softened the path ahead. Their effort? Two wickets apiece when the game was still taking shape. Then came Holder’s turn, spinning through Punjab Kings with 4 for 24 across just four overs. He took down captain Shreyas Iyer, then Nehal Wadhera, followed by Marcus Stoinis and Xavier Bartlett – one after another, like knocking off names from a list. Victory arrived by four wickets that Sunday, IPL 2026 humming in the background. Man of the Match landed in his hands, no surprise there
Right away, Siraj took out Priyansh Arya and then Cooper Connolly right at the start. By the sixth over, Rabada had sent Prabhsimran Singh back to the dugout. Bowling tight lines slowed Punjab down, even though Suryansh Shedge smashed 57 from just 29 balls. He found support in Marcus Stoinis, who chipped in with 40 off 31. Their partnership added up quickly – 79 runs together – but it wasn’t enough. Gujarat held firm, limiting them to 163 for nine in total.
Stumbling at the start, GT found footing through Sai Sudharsan’s steady knock of 57 from 41 balls. Then came Washington Sundar – his 23-ball 40 sealing things when he cleared the rope in the last over.
One step up, GT now sits sixth, counting twelve points on the board. Sitting pretty at the summit still, PBKS holds tight to thirteen
Out there, once the game ended, Jason Holder tipped his hat to Mohammed Siraj – also gave credit to Kagiso Rabada – for how they bowled hard when it counted. That kind of spell? It lightened his load during those middle overs. Still, he stayed locked on sticking to the strategy, making sure the other team never got comfortable
Truth be told, Siraj plus Rabada deserve every bit of praise. What they’ve pulled off stands out clear. Eases things when stepping in halfway through. Even so, showing up ready matters just as much. Pressure stays key. Making their attack struggle matters most, Holder mentioned during the interview after the game.
These days, it’s mostly T20s keeping Holder busy – nearly eighteen months of them. Still, he hasn’t given up on Tests. Facing varied challenges feels easier now because of that rhythm. He wants to be ready when needed, mind sharp and outlook strong. Making a difference matters most, no matter the format.
Last year and a half, just T20 games filled my days. Playing Tests remains something I truly want, yet diving into T20 keeps me sharp. Keeps me prepped, no matter what comes up. It’s about doing the job when someone says go. He said it’s about keeping a clear head, staying upbeat, then delivering when the moment comes – doing his best work even with stress pressing in.