How Rabada used Test-like rhythm to dismantle SRH top order

Kagiso Rabada could hit the good length with his eyes closed. Probably.

His ability to consistently zone in on that part of the pitch, at high pace, has been the cornerstone of his reputation as one of the best pacers in the world.

In IPL 2026, Gujarat Titans has leaned heavily on Rabada’s metronomic skillset to seize an early advantage with the ball.

The South African pacer has already claimed 16 wickets in the PowerPlay in IPL 2026. Only one bowler has ever taken more such wickets in this phase in an IPL season – Mohammed Shami (17) in 2023.

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On Tuesday, Rabada once again delivered the decisive opening knockout punch. He snared three vital wickets in the PowerPlay to derail Sunrisers Hyderabad’s chase and set Titans on the way to a massive win that lifted the side to the top of the table.

Rabada and his new-ball partner, Mohammed Siraj, bowled unchanged through the PowerPlay, persisting with a nagging off-stump line.

The Titans duo maximised the dampness of the Ahmedabad surface by tapping into the hard lengths, often slanting them away from the all-leftie SRH top order.

It was an exhibition of unerring pace bowling by two of its best exponents in modern-day cricket. This has been a recurring theme for Titans in IPL 2026, particularly at their home ground in Ahmedabad.

“Overall, this season, I think Siraj and Rabada have been hitting their lengths very well. That is the advantage of having proper Test bowlers,” said GT spinner R. Sai Kishore at the post-match press conference.

Enabling GT’s pacers on Tuesday was the demonstration they received from their counterparts. SRH’s quicks, led by the infallible Pat Cummins, had exploited the two-paced surface to largely contain the home batters, except for B. Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar.

“They [SRH] showed how to bowl on it and we tried to follow suit. Wicket got a little stickier and patience and simplicity worked,” admitted Rabada after receiving the Player of the Match award.

With the surface offering the requisite assistance, all Titans pacers had to do was not overplay their hand.

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“In such a wicket, not depending on the slow balls or yorkers a lot, trusting that hard and good length [was important]. That proper Test-match bowling has made a huge difference for us,” pointed out Sai Kishore.

In IPL, rarely do pacers get the right conditions to utilise this Test-match length. When they do, like in this match, it allows them to strike up something important – rhythm.

“Rhythm is everything,” explained Rabada.

When a bowler like Rabada enters that flow state, it is inevitably perilous for opposition batters, as SRH found out.

Published on May 13, 2026