Prasad Krishna of Gujarat Titans (AP Photo)
For much of the first half of IPL 2026, the Gujarat Titans have found themselves battling questions about intent, pace, and whether they have enough batting explosiveness to survive in a tournament that is increasingly tilting towards powerlessness.Inside the dressing room, though, of GT Prasad Krishna Says it never felt like the squad lacked direction.“I think Gujarat Titans in general always believe in what’s inside of us, and it’s always about what we think of each other,” Parsed said. TimesofIndia.com.“Honestly, names don’t really determine how well teams do in any sport. Teams can have a lot of big names, they can have a lot of new guys, and it can all be different. But more important is who goes out and performs on a given day.And after twelve matches, GT’s identity centers on their relentless bowling attack, which has overwhelmed teams with discipline and sheer length.This collective firepower has lifted the Gujarat Titans from a side that had won just three of their first seven matches and are now pushing hard for a top-two finish.
GT’s revival has largely been built around a bowling blueprint that feels almost old-fashioned in a T20 era prone to yorkers and mysterious variations.No team has taken more than Gujarat Titans’ 25 wickets in the Powerplay this season, while they also own the best economy rate at this stage. The main driving force behind this dominance has been the relentless pairing of Rabada and Siraj.I first time IPL In history, a bowling duo has bowled through the entire Powerplay in five consecutive matches – a role GT has repeatedly entrusted to Rabada and Siraj. In total, the duo have bowled all six overs together seven times this season, time and time again dismantling the opposition’s top order before the innings had settled.Rabada has taken 16 wickets within the powerplay alone, while Siraj’s ability to attack in the first over has time and again handed GT immediate control of matches.But what sets the attack apart is not the extraordinary swing or heavy yorker plans. Instead, GT’s seamers have consistently attacked tighter length and back length areas.Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, that strategy was on full display as Rabada and Siraj reduced SRH to 34 for 4 inside six overs, repeatedly crushing the aggressive stroke makers.The method is rooted in simplicity, says Parsed. “I don’t know if it’s specifically about hard length, but I would say as a bowler, if you hit a certain ball and it gives you success, as a smart bowler you keep repeating it,” he explained.“So if you look at how many wickets both of them have taken, it’s because they have bowled a lot. It’s as simple as that.“It’s really about the horses on the courses; understanding what ball is actually working on that particular day and keeping it going.”And the effect of these initial successes has spread to all other attacks.“When five or six bowlers are bowling really well together, somebody is bound to take a wicket. It has been a different person stepping up on different days, and that’s why you see Gujarat taking so many wickets this year,” he said.For Parsed personally, this season has been about evolution rather than just a continuation of last year’s Purple Cap-winning campaign.In IPL 2025, almost half of his 25 wickets came via short or good length deliveries. This season, he has refined that approach further with a slower bouncer that has become his go-to time and again in pressure situations.Against Delhi Capitals, Parsed relied on the slow bouncer twice to end the game. Against LSG – in his 4/28 – back-off length bowling or slower short balls were the standouts.
“I came into this tournament thinking that last year was really good, and we could go all the way as a team. So coming into this season, I was thinking what difference can I make and what can I add to my skill set,” Prasad said.“It’s not just that someone suddenly comes into the game and picks up for five. If someone is consistently taking wickets and doing really well, it means a lot of work is going on behind the scenes.Another turning point in GT’s season came with Holder’s involvement. Initially on the bench during the early stages of the campaign, Holder has since emerged as the balancing force of the attack, picking up 13 wickets in just six innings while working at an impressive economy rate.His cutter, uncanny bounce and ability to control the tempo in the middle overs has strengthened an already dangerous bowling unit.GT Assault now covers every stage seamlessly. Rabada and Siraj attack the power play. Holder and Parsed squeeze the middle overs with tight lengths and slow balls. Rashid Khan, after a slow start, has rediscovered his rhythm to become a middle-over enforcer once again.And overseeing it all has been his calm leadership. Shabman Gul.“He is very clear about how he wants to go about things, and the same is true when it comes to his captaincy,” Prasad said.“When a situation comes up where you need to make decisions during a game, it’s a lot easier for the bowler and the captain to stand together, discuss what’s going to happen and then act on that decision.”In a tournament dominated by batting headlines and 200-plus totals, Gujarat Titans have quietly built the most complete bowling identity in IPL 2026. And Prasidh is still hitting the decks and still thriving.
