Jason Holder had to wait for his chance at the Gujarat Titans, but when that opportunity arrived, the West Indies pacer provided the clearest reminder yet of why the franchise invested Rs 7 crore in him at the auction.
Brought into the starting XI in place of Glenn Phillips, Holder produced a decisive all-round display in Gujarat’s four-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Thursday.The 34-year-old took 2/29, took three catches, including a somewhat controversial one, and then contributed with the bat to a 30-run stand with Rahul Tewatia as GT bowled out RCB for 155 and completed the chase with 25 balls to spare. It is understood he was named man of the match.
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For a Titans team that traded Sherfane Rutherford to the Mumbai Indians in the offseason and was looking for a reliable middle-order option who could also hit the ground running, Holder’s performance was timely validation. “When we were pursuing Jason at the auction, it was envisaged that he would be able to play both roles, with bat and ball, so he offers us exactly that,” said Vikram Solanki, GT’s Director of Cricket. “If you take a look at the last calendar year and maybe a little longer than that, his numbers at five and six were absolutely fantastic.
“Holder, of course, has all the abilities you need. Physically, he’s a tough guy, he’s got a lot of reach and leverage with the bat, so all the technical aspects are covered. He now brings an extra dimension, stardust, if you like, of being a campaigner with real experience. I think that’s what’s going on,” Solanke said.Holder’s influence was not limited to his share. His catch of Patidar’s dismissal ended a 44-run stand and he later had big chances to bring back Tim David and Krunal Pandya.
Using the bat, he helped stabilize the chase alongside Tewatia.Solanke said Holder’s growing understanding of his game, built over years of international and franchise cricket, made him a valuable presence in pressure situations. “He has proven over the years, in international cricket and cricket, how good he is. He is only getting better,” Solanki said. “Any player who has played all this time around the world, captained teams like him, been part of different teams, starts to understand what to do in any given situation.
And Jason sure does.Holder played 96 T20Is for the West Indies and captained the national team across formats. This experience has also benefited younger GT players, Solanki said. “You often find individuals who have a lot of experience but maybe they can’t deliver it as well. Jason will always be willing to have conversations, whether it’s with the coaching group or with the youngsters around him, to pass on a little bit of his experience,” Solanke said, adding: “That’s the perfect storm – a skilled cricketer with experience, who wants to be part of a team, who is a gentleman and is very articulate when he speaks.”
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