It’s extremely difficult for uncapped Indians to play that

Former India player Aakash Chopra has lauded the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) bowling after their IPL 2026 clash against the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH). He pointed out that Jason Holder’s inclusion has made GT’s bowling even more threatening, highlighting that it’s very tough for uncapped Indians to handle the tall all-rounder’s steeply rising deliveries.

GT beat SRH by 82 runs in Match 56 of IPL 2026 in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 12. They posted 168/5 after being asked to bat first and bowled out the visitors for 86 to climb into the top position on the points table.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ the former India batter opined that GT have the best bowling attack in IPL 2026 and that Holder’s addition has had a significant role in that.

“There is no better bowling unit than them. This bowling unit has taken the most wickets, if we talk about fast bowling. If they see their economy, it’s the second best, and if we see the balls per wicket, they are the best. So they are a very, very good unit, and it’s not one guy,” Chopra said.

“They have Mohammed Siraj, Kagiso Rabada, Prasidh Krishna, Jason Holder, and Arshad Khan. They have used these five bowlers, and they have been absolutely mind-boggling. Holder’s inclusion has improved the bowling immensely. When he releases the ball from the third floor, it comes towards the head, and it’s extremely difficult for uncapped Indians to play that,” he added.

Chopra also praised Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada for setting up the game and Shubman Gill for consistently giving three overs apiece to the duo in the Powerplay.

“Siraj and Rabada do the setup. They bowl three overs apiece and pick up wickets. They have done that job seven times. So, well done, Shubman Gill. You chose the attacking option seven times,” he observed.

Kagiso Rabada (3/28 in four overs) and Mohammed Siraj (1/11 in three overs) picked up four wickets between them and conceded only 39 runs in their combined seven overs with the new ball. Jason Holder (3/20 in four overs) and Prasidh Krishna (2/23 in three overs) then ran through the SRH middle and lower order.

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“There was a slight thread whether it’s right to prepare the conditions they are preparing” – Aakash Chopra on the Ahmedabad pitch for GT vs SRH IPL 2026 clash

In the same video, Aakash Chopra noted that questions are being raised about the pitch prepared for the Gujarat Titans’ IPL 2026 clash against the SunRisers Hyderabad.

“There was a slight thread whether it’s right to prepare the conditions they are preparing. Should it even be allowed? Why there is so much help for bowlers, especially for the fast bowlers, here?” he said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator wondered why a similar hue and cry is not made when absolutely flat pitches are prepared at other venues.

“I have a question. When you see Punjab’s pitch in New Chandigarh, it’s one of the flattest pitches in the country, and when they go to Dharamsala, that’s also a flat pitch. When we allow them, why do we say that for Gujarat? There is no rule in T20 cricket that only sixes should be hit and 250 runs should be scored. If scoring 250 is a skill, batting on a seaming pitch is also a skill. Why so much uproar?” Chopra observed.

Aakash Chopra pointed out that the Gujarat Titans have assembled a technically compact batting lineup in IPL 2026 to score runs in their seamer-friendly home conditions. The analyst added that GT are aware that they have only three formidable batters, but they bring the best out of people, highlighting that they have made Washington Sundar a batter.