Gujarat Titans assistant coach Parthiv Patel believes Jason Holder has brought much-needed balance to the side after the all-rounder’s impressive impact in IPL 2026. Holder, who spent the first six matches on the bench, has quickly emerged as one of GT’s most important players in the last few matches.
Ahead of Gujarat’s clash with Rajasthan Royals, Parthiv admitted that Holder’s inclusion had changed the dynamic of the side, especially during the difficult phases of the middle order.
“Jason Holder’s inclusion was great for us,” Parthiv said at GT’s pre-match press conference.
“The way he batted, he’s a true all-rounder. He can play the role of an anchor and can also finish plays with attacking intent when needed.”
“He also understands the situations and conditions very well with the ball. He is an experienced player, so his inclusion was great for us.”
GT’s top order of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler has been batting a lot this season, but Holder’s arrival has eased some of that pressure.
Before Holder entered the XI, Gujarat’s middle order often looked vulnerable whenever the first wickets fell. The collapse against Mumbai Indians earlier this season, where GT was bowled out for 100, only added to these concerns.
Now the side suddenly looks a lot more balanced.
HOW GOOD WAS JASON HOLDER IN IPL 2026?
Holder may have only played four games so far, but the impact was immediate.
The West Indies all-rounder picked up 4/24 against Punjab Kings and followed that up with another strong all-round performance against Royal Challengers Bengaluru where he returned with figures of 2/29 and also grabbed three catches.
Both performances earned him back-to-back Player of the Match awards.
With the bat, Holder hit 40 runs at a strike rate of 148.15 and looked comfortable handling pressure situations lower down the order.
Against RCB, GT slipped from 92/2 to 111/5 and suddenly looked shaky again. Holder then helped calm things down alongside Rahul Tewatia and ensured that Gujarat did not lose control of the innings completely.
This composure is something that GT clearly lacked earlier in the season.
HOW DID JASON HOLDER SOLVE GT’S MIDDLE ORDERS?
For most of IPL 2026, Gujarat’s biggest worry was simple – what happens if the top three fail?
Gill, Sudharsan and Buttler scored a lot but the middle order did not contribute consistently enough. At one stage, GTs #4 through #7 had the fewest runs of any team in the tournament.
Holder’s arrival helped change that balance.
He gave Gujarat flexibility with both bat and ball. If wickets fall early, he can slow things down and rebuild. If the GT needs late drives, it also has the power to finish.
It also helped the players around him settle into clearer roles.
With the ball, Holder also added another reliable option to the attack and gave GT more control during the middle overs and death stages.
At a stage where the play-off race is heating up, Gujarat finally look like a side with far fewer holes than they had a few weeks ago.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
09 May 2026 03:00 IST
