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Gujarat Titans (GT) rode on Sai Sudharsan, Washington Sundar and Jason Holder's heroics to eke out a four-wicket win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) to record their hat-trick of victory in the ongoing IPL 2026.
GT edge past PBKS by 4 wickets
PBKS were restricted for 163/9, succumbing to Jason Holder's fiery four-fer. In reply, GT's batters struggled but Sai Sudharsan (57) kept holding the fort to take GT closer to the victory. Washington Sundar (40) did the rest by playing a match-winning knock of 40 to get GT past the victory line. This was GT's third straight victory which has placed them at the fifth spot in the standings with 12 points in 10 matches. Meanwhile, PBKS continue to rule the chart with 13 points in nine matches.
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Sudharsan-Washington's exploits take GT home
Gujarat Titans' pursuit of the 156-run target got off to a shaky start when captain Shubman Gill fell early to Arshdeep Singh. However, Sai Sudharsan quickly stabilized the innings, anchoring the chase through a vital 53-run partnership for the second wicket with Jos Buttler. Buttler took on the role of the aggressor during this stand, notably dispatching both Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett for sixes—the latter featuring a signature, audacious scoop over the wicketkeeper.
The momentum shifted slightly when Buttler, having reached 25, mistimed a shot off Vyshak Vijayakumar and was caught by Shreyas Iyer after failing to clear the infield. Despite the loss of his partner, Sudharsan remained composed and undeterred. He continued to accumulate runs steadily, eventually reaching his third half-century of the IPL 2026 season in just 37 deliveries. He celebrated the milestone with back-to-back boundaries off Yuzvendra Chahal, but his innings ended shortly after when a mistimed pull shot off Vyshak was intercepted by Bartlett on the boundary ropes.
The closing stages of the match saw a spike in tension following the dismissal of Rahul Tewatia, leaving the Titans needing 11 runs from the final over. The pressure was high, but Washington Sundar proved to be the cool head the team required. Remaining unbeaten with a crucial 40 off 23 balls, Sundar sealed the victory in spectacular fashion by scooping Marcus Stoinis for a six to cross the finish line.
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Jason Holder's four-fer dampens Suryansh Sedge's fifty
Earlier, an impressive half-century from Shedge helped PBKS recover from a precarious position, though they were ultimately restricted to a total of 163/9. This recovery was largely driven by a crucial 79-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Shedge and Marcus Stoinis. Drawing on his experience as a "firefighter" for Mumbai in domestic cricket, Shedge played a composed 29-ball innings, initially respecting the dominance of the Gujarat Titans' bowlers and the difficult nature of the pitch.
The momentum shifted dramatically in the 14th over when Shedge decided to go on the attack against Manav Suthar. In a stunning display of power, he hammered the bowler for three sixes and two fours, collecting 26 runs from the over and reaching his fifty in a mere 24 deliveries. However, his explosive cameo ended shortly after when he edged a delivery from Kagiso Rabada to Jos Buttler. Following his departure, the Punjab innings lost its way once again, despite a few late hits from Marco Jansen in the final over off Rashid Khan.
On the bowling front, the Titans' chase was immediately undermined by a masterclass from Mohammed Siraj. Siraj, who has been in exceptional form throughout the tournament, struck twice in the very first over, dismissing Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly on consecutive deliveries. Arya's cut shot went straight to debutant Nishant Sandhu, while Connolly feathered an edge back to the keeper. The pressure only intensified when Rabada clocked 152 kmph to remove Prabhsimran Singh, who could only scoop a high-velocity delivery to the fielder inside the circle.
Jason Holder then took command, further dismantling the Punjab Kings' lineup by removing Nehal Wadhera and captain Shreyas Iyer. Using a relentless and stifling line, Holder induced an edge from Wadhera and then forced Shreyas to chop a delivery back onto his stumps as he attempted to guide it to third man. This sequence of wickets left the Punjab side in complete disarray, as the Gujarat pace attack systematically exploited the early breakthroughs to stay in control of the contest.
PBKS will next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on May 6, while GT will take on Rajasthan Royals on May 9.
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