Holder, Siraj Lead Gujarat Titans’ Clinical Bowling Show to Restrict Punjab Kings to 163/9

Ahmedabad, May 2026: Gujarat Titans delivered a disciplined and well-coordinated bowling performance to restrict Punjab Kings to 163/9 in 20 overs during their IPL 2026 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

After opting to bowl first, Gujarat got off to a dream start with Mohammed Siraj striking twice in the opening over. He removed Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly in quick succession, leaving Punjab reeling at 6/2. The early breakthrough set the tone for the innings, as Gujarat’s bowlers maintained tight lines and exploited the pitch conditions, which offered movement and uneven bounce.

From the other end, Kagiso Rabada kept the pressure on and dismissed Prabhsimran Singh, ensuring Punjab never gained momentum during the powerplay. The visitors struggled to recover, managing only 35/3 in the first six overs.

The situation worsened when Jason Holder entered the attack and made an immediate impact. He dismissed Nehal Wadhera and then bowled skipper Shreyas Iyer, reducing Punjab to 47/5 inside nine overs and putting them in deep trouble.

Amid the collapse, a resilient counter-attack emerged from Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis. The duo stitched together a vital 79-run partnership for the sixth wicket, reviving Punjab’s innings. Shedge, displaying remarkable composure, brought up a rapid half-century off just 24 balls. His aggressive approach included a game-changing over against Manav Suthar, where he smashed 27 runs, briefly shifting the momentum.

Stoinis complemented him well, rotating the strike efficiently and adding timely boundaries. At one stage, Punjab looked set to push towards a total beyond 170.

However, Gujarat’s bowlers staged a strong comeback in the death overs. Rabada broke the crucial partnership by dismissing Shedge for an impressive 57 off 29 balls. Soon after, Holder returned to dismantle the lower order, removing Stoinis for 40 and finishing with outstanding figures of 4/24.

Despite a quick cameo from Marco Jansen (20 off 11), Punjab’s lower order failed to capitalise, losing wickets at regular intervals. Rashid Khan also contributed with a wicket, while Arshad Khan kept things tight to prevent any late surge.

Punjab’s innings reflected a mix of early collapse, middle-order resilience, and late stutter. Gujarat Titans’ bowlers, however, maintained control throughout, combining effectively to keep the total within a manageable range.

Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 163/9 in 20 overs (Suryansh Shedge 57, Marcus Stoinis 40; Jason Holder 4/24, Kagiso Rabada 2/22, Mohammed Siraj 2/28) vs Gujarat Titans.