On a surface that continued to offer seam movement, GT’s new-ball pair of Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada hit hard lengths at pace and left SRH’s explosive top order with little room to breathe. Siraj began with a wicket maiden, removing Travis Head for a duck, before Rabada sent back Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Smaran Ravichandran to reduce SRH to 32/4 inside six overs. Chasing 169, SRH folded for 86 in 14.5 overs. Rabada finished with 3/28, Jason Holder returned 3/20 while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with 2/23.
GT spinner R Sai Kishore said the clarity in the team’s pace-bowling plan had been shaped by head coach Ashish Nehra and captain Shubman Gill. “Overall this season, Siraj and Rabada have been hitting their lengths very well. That is the advantage of having proper Test-match bowlers in the lineup. We’ve been nicely led by Shubman Gill and Ashish Nehra in terms of the bowling philosophies, in terms of what lengths to bowl in the Powerplay,” Kishore said. “On such a wicket, without depending too much on slower balls or yorkers, the bowlers trusted bowling a good length. I think proper Test-match bowling has made a huge difference for us this season.”
Asked whether such a method could be counter-productive on flatter batting surfaces, Kishore stressed on the adaptability in GT’s attack. “I think that is where adaptability comes into play. Rabada, Siraj and Holder are very good with their yorkers and into-the-pitch cutters as well,” he said.
“But on this wicket, you had to be brave and bowl those hard lengths. That has been the philosophy. If it is a very classic batting wicket, we will be smart enough to bowl yorkers, slower bouncers and cutters to get batters out. I think we are equipped for that.”