Mohammed Siraj x Kagiso Rabada: GT speed duo bring huge hopes to Qualifier 1 vs RCB

Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada have been the heart of Gujarat Titans’ bowling attack in IPL 2026, with the pace duo playing a central role in taking the franchise to Qualifier 1. Their ability to break games in the powerplay has given GT a big advantage over the course of the season, turning them into one of the most complete bowling units in the tournament.

As Gujarat Titans prepare to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Qualifier 1 in Dharamsala on May 26, assistant coach Vijay Dahiya highlighted understanding between Siraj and Rabada during the pre-match press conference. Dahiya said the partnership between the two fast bowlers has transcended individual brilliance to become one of the team’s defining strengths this season.

“One thing about Siraj is his character. He directs all his energy towards one goal and that is very important. He also has a very capable partner at the other end. The chemistry between the two is phenomenal, not only on the field but also off it,” said Dahiya.

“They understand each other mentally and skill-wise. They know how the game is going and what each of them has to do. We usually talk about the batting partnership, but they have built a very strong bowling partnership.”

Dahiya also praised head coach Ashish Nehru for managing two very different fast bowlers and helping them work together as a cohesive unit despite their different personalities and backgrounds.

“A lot of credit should also go to Ashish Nehra. The way he handles them both is excellent. They are different personalities, come from different backgrounds and deal with different pressures while playing international cricket. But both are top bowlers and are doing really well,” he added.

The numbers reflect how influential the pair have been this season. Siraj took 17 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 8.59 while Rabada went even bigger with 24 wickets in 14 matches at an economy of 9.19. More importantly, the duo consistently make breakthroughs at the most difficult stages of the innings, often allowing Gujarat Titans to take control before the opposition batting units can settle down.

SIRAJ AND RABADA: POWERPLAY KINGS OF GT

Gujarat Titans’ dominance in IPL 2026 has largely been built on their ability to suffocate sides early and Siraj has been at the center of that strategy. The Indian pacer has picked up 13 wickets in the powerplay this season while also playing a tournament-high 148 dot balls in just 306 deliveries, relentlessly building pressure from the first over.

Siraj repeatedly gave GT early control by attacking the top-order batsmen aggressively instead of merely holding back the runs. One of his standout spells came against Chennai Super Kings where he tore through the batting line-up in the powerplay by dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad and Urvil Patel among his three wickets. The spell laid the foundation for Gujarat Titans’ 89-run crushing win.

Rabada, meanwhile, was equally devastating with the new ball. The South African quick has taken 17 powerplay wickets this season, equaling Mohammed Shami’s all-time IPL record for most wickets in a phase in a single edition. His ability to generate pace and rebound while attacking the stumps perfectly complemented Siraj’s relentless accuracy.

Together, the duo have created a rhythm where one player keeps applying pressure while the other takes wickets, making GT one of the toughest sides to recover against after the first six overs.

RCB VS GT: BATTLE OF PACE DUOS

Interestingly, Gujarat Titans now head into Qualifier 1 against another side heavily powered by fast bowling. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have also relied on their experienced pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood throughout IPL 2026, with both bowlers making major breakthroughs in the overs and overs.

This makes for an interesting contest in Dharamsala where the conditions are expected to favor the pull but also reward disciplined fast bowling. While Gujarat Titans boast the tournament’s most devastating new-ball combination in Siraj and Rabada, RCB’s experienced duo have been equally important to Bengaluru’s push deep into the playoffs.

With both teams having explosive batting lineups, the Qualifier 1 matchup may ultimately come down to which up-tempo offense can handle the power play better and handle pressure moments more effectively.

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Issued by:

Debodinna Chakraborty

Published on:

25 May 2026 19:27 IST

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