IPL 2026: Holder’s impact performance lifts GT to crucial win

GT’s Jason Holder is ecstatic after dismissing RCB’s Jitesh Sharma in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Pic/PTI

West Indian all-rounder Jason Holder, 34, had to spend time on the bench in the first six matches of the 19th edition of the IPL, but after being included in the playing XI, he has turned Gujarat Titans's otherwise ordinary run into one extra-ordinary one.

In only his third match for GT this season, Holder turned in a Player of the Match-winning performance, picking up two vital wickets (2-29) and holding on to three crucial catches, as GT beat in-form defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru by four wickets on Thursday.

GT's Director of Cricket, Vikram Solanki, rightly praised the 6-foot-7 West Indian at the post-match press conference.

Vikram Solanki

"When we were pursuing Jason at the auction, it was on our mind that he would be able to fulfil both roles - with bat and ball - as he offers that. He's physically a strong guy, has great reach and leverage as far as the ball is concerned, so all of the technicalities are covered. He's also now bringing in an added dimension, that sort of sprinkling stardust, if you like, of being a really experienced campaigner and I think that's what's playing out in front of us now," Solanki said about Holder, who was picked up by GT for Rs 7 crore.

"He's a world-class all-rounder, isn't he? He has proved across the years in international cricket and franchise cricket how measured he is and I think he's only getting better. He spoke about understanding his game and that of course comes with experience," added Solanki.

Holder's two wickets, three catches, including one controversial one, besides a calm 10-ball 12 later ensured GT easily got past the victory target of 156 set by RCB (155 all out in 19.2 overs) with 4.1 overs to spare.

Bengaluru's star performer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3-28) said the only chance RCB had of victory was to bowl out GT, which is why they persisted with seamers. "There was some help for seamers, and we had Romario [Shepherd], third seamer. So, we wanted to take a chance. Suyash [Sharma] is someone who is not easy to pick. We wanted to get wickets as quickly as possible," he said while explaining the rationale behind not giving the ball to veteran spinner Krunal Pandya until the 16th over when victory was within GT's grasp.

Three
No. of catches claimed by Jason Holder on Thursday - the joint-most outfield catches for Gujarat Titans in a single innings