Gujarat Titans have raised the bar in IPL 2026 with a pace-heavy approach that keeps batters thinking about the next delivery. The franchise is top of the wicket-taking charts among pacers using short balls, and their recent outing against Punjab Kings showed how effectively bounce and hard lengths can disrupt a batting plan.
Key takeaways
- Gujarat Titans lead the IPL 2026 tally for most wickets by pacers via short-pitched bowling with 29 wickets.
- Kolkata Knight Riders sit second with 19 such wickets, while Rajasthan Royals have 16 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru 15.
- In the match versus Punjab Kings, Mohammed Siraj struck twice in the first over to unsettle the top order early.
- Kagiso Rabada supported with sustained pace pressure, while Jason Holder produced the standout impact spell of 4/24.
- Punjab Kings were reduced to 47 for five within nine overs, before a late recovery effort fell short as they finished on 163/9.
GT’s short-ball dominance across IPL 2026
Gujarat Titans are setting the benchmark for pace this season, topping the charts for most wickets taken by pacers through short-ball deliveries. Their total of 29 wickets puts them clearly ahead of the rest of the league, highlighting how their quicks are using bounce and testing lengths to force errors.
The next group in the standings reflects how well the approach is being executed across teams: Kolkata Knight Riders have 19 wickets, Rajasthan Royals follow with 16, Royal Challengers Bengaluru manage 15, and Sunrisers Hyderabad have 13. Chennai Super Kings are next with 11, while the margin between GT and the pack underscores their consistency in turning short-ball tactics into breakthroughs.
Punjab Kings collapse as GT strike with relentless pace
That same dominance was on display against Punjab Kings, where Gujarat’s pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada dismantled the top order with repeated short-pitched bowling. Siraj provided the early spark, taking two wickets in the opening over and leaving PBKS reeling almost immediately.
Rabada then compounded the pressure with raw pace, keeping the batters uncomfortable and forcing rushed decisions. Holder, however, delivered the decisive phase of the game with a standout spell of 4/24—Gujarat’s best bowling figures against Punjab Kings—turning momentum decisively in GT’s favour.
By 47 runs and five wickets down at the nine-over mark, Punjab Kings were in serious trouble. Even though Suryansh Shedge showed fight with a 57-run innings and helped stitch a key 79-run partnership with Marcus Stoinis (40), the match had already shifted too far for PBKS to fully recover.
Shedge’s batting stood out for composure under pressure, as he blended caution with measured aggression. A particularly damaging moment came in an over against Manav Suthar, where Shedge smashed 26 runs, briefly giving the innings a different shape.
But just as Punjab looked like they might repair the damage, Rabada struck again and dismissed Shedge, ending any realistic hopes of a full turnaround. From there, Gujarat’s bowlers kept tightening the screws, ensuring PBKS never regained complete control of the chase.
Marco Jansen’s late hitting helped push the total to 163 for nine, yet it still felt below par given the early collapse. With their fast bowlers executing plans with precision—especially through the short ball—Gujarat Titans are not only winning matches, but also reshaping how pace can dictate outcomes in IPL 2026.
