Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] — Gujarat Titans (GT) spinner Sai Kishore heaped praise on pacers Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj for their “Test match bowling,” which he believes has been a game-changer for the table-toppers this season.
Following composed half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar, it was the relentless aggression and discipline of Rabada and Siraj that reduced Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) to 32/4 while chasing 169 runs. The explosive SRH lineup crumbled under powerplay pressure and were bowled out for just 86 runs—their lowest all-out score in IPL history.
Speaking during the post-match press conference, Sai said that while Siraj and Rabada have consistently hit the right lengths with their Test-match approach, the bowling philosophy of skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Ashish Nehra has been instrumental in GT’s powerplay dominance.
“Siraj and Rabada have been hitting their lengths pretty well. This is the advantage of having proper Test match bowlers in your lineup. We have been led well by skipper Shubman Gill and Ashish Nehra in terms of bowling philosophy—what to bowl in the powerplay, not depending on slower balls or yorkers, and trusting that hard length on this bowling. Test match bowling has made a huge difference this season for us,” he said.
Rabada is the joint-highest wicket-taker this season with 21 scalps in 12 matches at an average of 20.04 and an economy rate of 9.15, including best figures of 3/25. Siraj has also impressed with 13 wickets in 12 matches at an average of 27.84 and an economy rate of 8.22, with best figures of 2/23.
Sai noted that the wicket was “damp” and seamed significantly, so the team’s target was around 170. “There were talks within the dressing room that 170 was the par score, a very good score if we bowled well in the powerplay. Nishant batted with intent in the powerplay, Sai played very well, and Washington finished it well. Fast bowlers bowled well in the powerplay,” he added.
He hailed Sai Sudharsan’s calculated half-century as a major difference-maker, as the batter spent considerable time at the crease and got his eye in while the ball was seaming after SRH opted to bowl first.
“That is where batsmanship comes into play. Sai Sudharsan played a wonderful knock, even though he was not striking at the highest strike rate. He took his percentage and played wonderfully. At the end of the day, it made a huge difference as Siraj and Rabada bowled, the ball was seaming,” Sai said.
Sudharsan has amassed 501 runs in 12 innings at an average of 41.75 and a strike rate of 155.10, including a century and five fifties. He is the second-highest run-getter this season, trailing only SRH’s Heinrich Klaasen (508 runs in 12 innings at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 153.93, with five fifties).
In the match, SRH won the toss and opted to bowl first. GT slipped to 26/2 before Sai Sudharsan (61 off 44 balls, with five fours and two sixes) led the recovery, adding 38 runs with Nishant Sindhu (22 off 14 balls, with three fours and a six) and then 60 runs with Washington Sundar (50 off 33 balls, with seven fours and a six). GT finished at 168/5 in 20 overs.
For SRH, Praful Hinge (2/17 in three overs) and Sakib Hussain (2/37 in four overs) bowled well, while skipper Pat Cummins took 1/20 in four overs.
Chasing 169, Mohammed Siraj (1/11 in three overs) struck early, removing Travis Head for a duck. Kagiso Rabada (3/28 in four overs) dismantled the top order, dismissing Abhishek Sharma (6), Ishan Kishan (11), and Smaran Ravichandran (9) to leave SRH at 32/4 in 5.5 overs.
Jason Holder (3/20 in four overs) and Prasidh Krishna (2/23 in three overs) then cleaned up the tail, bowling SRH out for 86. SRH skipper Cummins (19) was the top scorer.
Rabada was named Player of the Match for his sensational powerplay spell.
With eight wins and four losses, GT remain at the top of the table with 16 points, while SRH slipped to third with seven wins and five losses (14 points).
