Gujarat Titans Dominate IPL 2026 with Short-Ball Pace Strategy

Gujarat Titans are setting the benchmark with pace this season, leading the charts for most wickets by pacers using short balls in IPL 2026. With 29 wickets, GT are comfortably ahead of the rest, underlining how effectively their quicks have used bounce and hard lengths to trouble batters.

Most wickets by pacers (short balls) – IPL 2026: 29 – Gujarat Titans 19 – Kolkata Knight Riders 16 – Rajasthan Royals 15 – Royal Challengers Bengaluru 13 – Sunrisers Hyderabad 11 – Chennai Super Kings

Their dominance was once again on display against Punjab Kings, where the pace trio of Mohammed Siraj, Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada dismantled the top order with relentless short-pitched bowling. Siraj set the tone immediately, striking twice in the opening over to leave PBKS rattled. Rabada’s raw pace added to the pressure, while Holder delivered the knockout blow with a superb spell of 4/24, the best bowling figures for GT against Punjab Kings. At 47 for five inside nine overs, PBKS were in complete trouble. Though Suryansh Shedge played a fighting knock of 57 and stitched a crucial 79-run stand with Marcus Stoinis (40), the damage had already been done. Shedge showed composure under pressure, mixing caution with calculated aggression, highlighted by a brutal over against Manav Suthar where he collected 26 runs. But just when PBKS looked to rebuild, Rabada struck again to remove him, ending hopes of a full recovery. GT’s pacers kept chipping away, ensuring PBKS never fully regained control. A few late hits from Marco Jansen pushed the total to 163 for nine, but it still felt below par given the early collapse. With their fast bowlers executing plans to perfection, especially with the short ball, Gujarat Titans are not just winning matches but also redefining how pace can dictate games in IPL 2026.