Prasidh Krishna of Gujarat Titans (AP Photo)
For most of the first half of IPL 2026, the Gujarat Titans found themselves facing questions about intent, rhythm and whether they possess enough batting power to survive in a tournament increasingly skewed towards power-hitting.Inside the dressing room, though, GT’s Prasidh Krishna says there was never any sense that the team lacked direction.
“I think the Gujarat Giants in general have always believed in what we have within us, and it is always about what we think of each other,” Prasidh said. TimesofIndia.com.“Honestly, there are no names in any sport that really determine how well teams will do. Teams can have a lot of big names, they can have a lot of new players, and it can all be different.
But the most important thing is who comes out and performs on a given day.After twelve matches, GT’s identity centered on a relentless bowling attack, which overcame teams with discipline and challenging lengths.This collective firepower has transformed the Gujarat Titans from a team that won just three of their first seven matches to one that is aggressively gunning for a top-two finish.
GT’s comeback has been largely built around a bowling scheme that seems almost old-fashioned in the T20-obsessed era of New Yorkers and obscure variations.
No team has taken more wickets in the Powerplay this season than Gujarat Titans’ 25, while they also have the best economy rate at this stage. The central driving force behind that dominance was the constant coupling of rabada and serraj.For the first time in IPL history, a bowling pair has bowled the entire Powerplay in five successive matches – a role that GT has repeatedly delegated to Rabada and Siraj.
Overall, the pair have bowled all sixes together seven times this season, repeatedly dismantling opposition top orders before the innings have settled.Rabada alone has taken 16 wickets inside the powerplay, while Siraj’s ability to bat first over has repeatedly given GT immediate control of matches.But what makes the attack special is not the swingy tactics or the heavy tactics. Instead, the GT’s seamsmen constantly attacked hard-hitting areas and rear areas of length.Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, this strategy was on full display as Rabada and Siraj reduced SRH to 34 for 4 inside six overs, repeatedly cramping up the aggressive batsmen.The method is rooted in simplicity, Prasidh says. “I don’t know if it’s specifically about the difficult lengths, but I would say as a bowler, if you bowl a certain ball and it gives you success, then as an intelligent bowler you keep repeating that,” he explained.“So, if you see the number of wickets that these two picked up, it’s because they ended up playing a lot of those deliveries.
It’s that simple.“It’s really about the training sessions for the horses; understanding what ball actually works on that particular day and sticking with it.”The impact of these early breakthroughs spread to the rest of the attack.“When five or six bowlers are playing well together, someone is bound to pick up wickets. It was a different person coming forward on different days, which is why you are seeing Gujarat picking up a lot of wickets this year,” he said.For Prasidh personally, this season has been about growth, not just a continuation of last year’s Purple title-winning campaign.In IPL 2025, nearly half of the 25 wickets came through short or short-length deliveries. This season, he has improved this approach further with a slower keeper who has repeatedly become his preferred option in pressing situations.Against Delhi Capitals, Prasidh twice trusted the slower keeper to seal the game.
Against LSG – on 4/28 – Back-length bowling or slower short balls was preferable.
“I came into this tournament thinking that last year went really well and we could go further as a team. So coming into this season, I was thinking about what difference I can make and what I can add to my skill set,” said Prasidh.“It’s not just that someone suddenly turns up at a game and gets a five-for.
If someone is constantly picking up wickets and doing really well, then there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes.Another major turning point in the GT season has arrived with the inclusion of Holder. Initially benched during the opening phase of the campaign, Holder has since emerged as a counterweight to the attack, taking 13 wickets in just six innings while operating at an outstanding economy rate.His cutters, awkward bounce and ability to control tempo through the middle has enhanced an already dangerous bowling unit.GT Attack now covers every stage seamlessly. Rabada and Siraj attack the force. Holder and Prasidh put pressure on the middle through solid lengths and slow balls. Rashid Khan, after a slow start, has rediscovered his rhythm to become a middle-order outlet once again.Overseeing all of this was under the calm leadership of Shubman Gill.
Who do you think has been the breakout player for Gujarat Titans this season?
“He is very clear about the way he wants to handle things and it is the same when it comes to his leadership as well,” Prasidh said.“When it comes to situations where you need to make decisions during a match, it becomes very easy for the player and the captain to stand together, discuss what will happen and then implement that decision.”In a tournament dominated by headliners and 200-plus totals, Gujarat Titans have quietly built the most complete bowling identity in IPL 2026. Prasidh continues to shine and is still developing.
