IPL 2026: Gujarat Titans’ dominant as an all-round team beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by ‘complete’, and comfortable match in Ahmedabad at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday evening. While Sai Sudharsan’s anchor knock helped set a big goal, Gujarat’s pace battery ripped through a toothless SRH batting order that capitulated for an embarrassing 86 from 14.5 overs chasing 169.
GT: 168/5 in 20 overs
SRH entered the match and opted to bowl first after winning tosses, making a completely wrong decision against GT. Gujarat had a shaky beginning, skipper Shubman Gill getting out cheaply for 5 off 7 balls after being caught by debutant Praful Hinge in the third over.
Sai Sudharsan was the one who calmed the innings and anchored it so beautifully. The elegant left-hander hung about for 44 balls, scoring a controlled 61 runs with the help of 5 fours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 138.64. He put together a vital third wicket partnership of 38 runs with Nishant Sindhu and got another useful stand of 60 runs with Washington Sundar before being dismissed in the 17th over.
The only other significant contribution with the bat for GT was from Washington Sundar, who scored a steady 25 in the middle overs then blasted an entertaining cameo to finish with 50 off just 33 balls. Jason Holder also contributed with a quick-fire 11 not out off just10 balls as GT set the Royals a competitive target of 168/5. Pat Cummins (1/20 in 4 overs) and Praful Hinge (2/17 in 3 overs) were the best bowlers for SRH.
Sunrisers Hyderabad innings: 86/10 (14.5 overs)
Batting first, SRH never got going in their chase. By now, Travis Head — their destroyer-in-chief on so many occasions before against South Africa — had been brought to his knees too, cleaned out for a first-ball duck by an in-swinger. Abhishek Sharma — 6 from 3, b Jansen ( 1 x 4,6 ) [Briefly threatened; clubbed a six but bowled] Ishan Kishan stepped out to be even more aggressive – scored 11 off 7, but was caught at cover and before you knew it, SRH were in trouble at 23/3 within the first four overs.
Smaran Sankaran was able to amass 9 off 15 — hardly raising the slow scoring rate, and when Heinrich Klaasen (traditionally SRH’s aggressor at the death) was caught behind for a pitiful 14, it felt over. There was no resistance from the lower order either, with Salil Arora being the highest scorer for the chasing side with a relatively slow and painful innings of 16.
Bowling was clinical and disciplined at their end from Gujarat. Kagiso Rabada picked up 3/28 while Jason Holder returned 3/20 in an outstanding performance where the pair shared six wickets between them. Mohammed Siraj started things off and put pressure with his opening overs (1/11 in 3 overs), while Rashid Khan ended the tail-end with significant 1/3 from his half-over. Under pressure to chase, SRH were all cleaned up with 5 overs still left in their innings.
RESULT — GUJARAT TITANS WON BY 82 RUNS. This comprehensive win further strengthens their grip on the IPL 2026 points table as they remain genuine title contenders.
