04|05|2026

Kagiso Rabada's bowling performance was significant in helping the Gujarat Titans win against a strong Punjab Kings side. This was PBKS's second defeat of the campaign. The win moved the Titans level on points with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Rajasthan Royals. However, due to an inferior net run rate, they remained in fifth position on the log instead of second.

The visitors, batting first, immediately found things not going their way, as Mohammed Siraj picked up the wickets of Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly within the first three balls of the match.

The Kings tried to recover, but Rabada struck in the sixth over with the score at 35. In the following over, former West Indies captain Jason Holder struck twice, removing Nehal Wadhera (0) and Shreyas Iyer (19).

Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis then initiated the Kings' recovery with a 79-run partnership, which Rabada eventually broke. Shedge's dismissal (57) marked Rabada's sixteenth wicket of the season, making this his best IPL season for the Titans since joining them last year.

Stoinis (40) tried to keep things going, but he and his countryman Xavier Bartlett fell to Holder in the 18th over. The Kings eventually finished on 163 for 9, with Holder taking 4 for 24 and Rabada 2 for 22.

Things did not start well for the Titans with the bat, as Shubham Gill (5) was dismissed in the second over. Sai Sudharsan anchored the chase, scoring 57 from 41 balls. Washington Sundar then took over the chase, scoring an unbeaten 23-ball 40. South African tall speedster Marco Jansen finished with 1 for 33, taking the wicket of Rahul Tewatia.

PBKS will play their next game against the Sunrisers on May 6, while the Titans' next opponents will be the Royals on May 9.