Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder delivered key breakthroughs as Gujarat Titans edged Punjab Kings by four wickets in a tense IPL chase.
Gujarat Titans did not cruise to victory, they scraped their way into one, with Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder turning the match’s pressure points.
In a Tata Indian Premier League clash at Arun Jaitley Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday evening, Rabada struck at crucial moments in the powerplay while Holder’s four-wicket spell kept Punjab Kings on the back foot.. Gujarat set the tone after winning the toss and choosing to bowl on a wicket that offered seam movement and bounce.
Suryansh Shedge made a serious attempt to steer Punjab through the danger, hitting 57 off 29 balls and bringing momentum with five sixes after the Kings had slumped to 47/5.. Even so, the innings ended at 163/9, a total that looked workable until the visitors ran into Holder’s control and the late tightening of the chase.
This is the part that matters in IPL cricket: early dismissals shape the innings, but the real swing often comes when a team removes batters just as momentum begins to build.
Holder’s figures told their own story as wickets fell at important times, including dismissals of Nehal Wadhera for 0, Shreyas Iyer for 19, Marcus Stoinis, and Xavier Bartlett for 0.. Marco Jansen did strike, but his attempt to lift the batting line only took him to 20 off 11 balls before the pressure returned.
Chasing 164, Gujarat Titans relied on steadier batting from Sai Sudharsan, who scored 57 off 41, while Jos Buttler added quick runs with 25. The middle overs belonged to Gujarat for stretches, but Punjab’s bowlers refused to let the game drift.
While Washington Sundar and Arshad Khan were setting the finish line, Punjab’s seam and pace pressure made every boundary feel harder. Vijaykumar Vyshak and Arshdeep Singh combined for timely breakthroughs, ensuring the chase stayed nervy until the end.
The final phase decided everything, with Washington Sundar remaining unbeaten on 40 and Arshad Khan providing the last-over impact, including a four that squeezed down to fine leg. Gujarat Titans completed the chase with one ball to spare, landing a four-wicket win.
For Gujarat, this type of result is more than two points, it is a reminder that survival under pressure can be just as valuable as dominant batting spells.
The win left them in fifth place on the log, level on points with RCB, Sunrisers and Rajasthan, though RCB have a game in hand, as the race continues to heat up.