"Makes my job easier": Jason Holder in awe of Siraj-Rabada combo after consecutive POTM performances in IPL 2026

In match no.46 of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, the Gujarat Titans (GT) hosted the Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Shubman Gill’s side had the better of the Kings, winning the game by 4 wickets in the final over. Jason Holder was yet again the Player of the Match for his excellent performance.

It was an exciting low-scoring encounter on Sunday night as GT took their revenge over the table toppers. GT captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to field first on a black soil pitch. With Nishant Sindhu making his debut for Shahrukh Khan, the visitors made two changes with Vyshak Vijaykumar and Xavier Bartlett coming in for Lockie Ferguson and Harpreet Brar.

Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis came to PBKS' rescue

After being put into bat first, PBKS looked completely clueless as they lost Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly in the second and third balls of the first innings, with Mohammed Siraj on a roll and picking the two crucial wickets. Then Kagiso Rabada continued his purple patch in the IPL, and PBKS were down to 47/5, with half the side back in the pavilion.

Then from there, the young Suryansh Shedge and the experienced Marcus Stoinis stitched a 79-run partnership between the two and took charge of the innings. The former scored 57 off 29 balls, and Stoinis scored 40 off 31 balls, which helped the Kings to go past the 150-run mark as they finished with the score of 163/9.

Washington Sundar wins it for the Titans

While chasing Gill was the first wicket to fall for five runs, and Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler stitched a 53-run partnership, the latter did not convert his start to a big score and was back scoring 26 runs. Sai scored a brilliant fifty off 37 balls, but could not finish off the match and was back scoring 57 runs.

Then a flurry of wickets, but Washington Sundar held at one end and finished the game in the second last ball of the 20th over as GT won against PBKS at this venue for the first time, and it made a hat-trick of wins in the IPL 2026.

They set the tone for us all season- Jason Holder

Jason Holder was awarded the POTM for his amazing bowling display of 4/24 in his four overs. This was his second consecutive POTM in the IPL for the Titans, and he has been a valuable addition for the side. Jason Holder was happy after winning the award and credited the duo of Siraj and Rabada for their excellent starts.

Jason Holder said, "They were excellent. They set the tone for us all season. Credit to both Siraj and KG. Their efforts have been outstanding. Even though sometimes they may go for runs, they come back and take wickets which is crucial in the powerplay."

"Makes my job easier in the middle after the tone has been set, but having said that I still need to come and execute. The main thing is to keep the pressure on.. if you're not getting wickets, keep the pressure on and bowl your best deliveries, stem the flow of runs and ensure you make it difficult for them to score."

"Have talked a lot in the dressing room about what we wanted to do, how we want to adjust in certain situations and the boys have been doing an excellent job," Jason Holder concluded.

Also Read: Marnus Labuschagne involved in a heated exchange with umpire during the PSL 2026 final