Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar heaped praise on the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada after Gujarat Titans clinched a top-two finish in IPL 2026 with an 89-run triumph over Chennai Super Kings on May 22. Bangar said the two fast bowlers have set the right tempo for GT all season, and their ability to strike early has helped the franchise control matches from the outset\u2014leading to another statement win in a high-pressure contest.<\/p>\n
Batting first, Gujarat built a formidable platform thanks to half-centuries from B Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler, finishing on 229\/4. CSK, in reply, never really found their rhythm as Siraj, Rabada and Rashid Khan combined to dismantle the batting order and restrict the five-time champions to 140 all out in 13.4 overs, effectively ending their playoff hopes with the defeat.<\/p>\n
Siraj and Rabada delivered the key bursts with the new ball, striking at a crucial stage to leave CSK reeling at 31\/3 within the first three overs. Bangar highlighted that those early breakthroughs were central to how GT managed the match, because once the innings is tilted early, the rest of the bowling lineup can operate with less pressure and more attacking intent.<\/p>\n
In Bangar\u2019s view, the fast-bowling pair\u2019s front-loaded spells have been instrumental not just for wickets, but also for the way GT can deploy Rashid Khan in the middle overs. By taking wickets early, Gujarat have been able to create a platform where the spin bowler can bowl with greater freedom rather than being forced into defensive variations. Bangar summed up the strategy by saying that Siraj and Rabada have \u201cset the tone beautifully\u201d for the Titans this season, adding that their long, attacking spells upfront allow the team to stay consistent without constantly tweaking fields or bowling changes from one end to the other.<\/p>\n
He further noted that the ability of the two pacers to keep grabbing wickets early provides the ideal foundation for the rest of the bowling group. With Gujarat ahead in the contest from the beginning, Bangar believes that Rashid Khan becomes far harder to face, making GT\u2019s overall bowling unit exceptionally well managed throughout the innings.<\/p>\n
After Gujarat\u2019s bowlers dominated the chase, Bangar also pointed to Jos Buttler\u2019s unbeaten knock as a major factor in the final outcome. Buttler struck 57 not out off 27 balls, turning the momentum in the late stages of the innings and helping GT cross the 220-run mark with authority.<\/p>\n
Buttler came to the crease after Gill\u2019s dismissal and immediately changed the pace of the match. He struck Noor Ahmad for consecutive sixes before racing to his half-century in just 23 deliveries. That finishing acceleration ensured CSK\u2019s chase never gained traction and left them with too much ground to make up, despite the early resistance they had managed before the collapses set in.<\/p>\n
Bangar described Buttler\u2019s innings as \u201chugely significant,\u201d noting that it reflected dominance and intent while shifting the momentum decisively in Gujarat\u2019s favour. He added that seeing Buttler in that kind of form is a major boost for GT ahead of the playoffs, especially because the strike rate and late surge played a direct role in putting the match beyond CSK\u2019s reach.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar heaped praise on the pace duo of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada after Gujarat Titans clinched a top-two finish…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11506,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"IPL 2026: Sanjay Bangar Praises Siraj, Rabada Pace","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Sanjay Bangar hails Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada as Gujarat Titans set the IPL 2026 tempo, powering an 89-run win over CSK.","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ipl"],"yoast_head":"\n