Indian cricket legend Ravichandran Ashwin praised the Gujarat Titans for their composed and methodical approach in their four-wicket victory against the Punjab Kings in an IPL 2026 match held at Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Speaking on JioHotstar, Ashwin highlighted the tactical brilliance demonstrated by Gujarat Titans during the chase, successfully reaching a target of 164 with just one ball remaining.
“Gujarat Titans were once again incredibly composed in the way they approached the chase. Their batting may not always look explosive, but it’s highly methodical and built around understanding conditions. On pitches like these, where 160-170 is a competitive score, it’s about controlling the game and executing your plans rather than chasing big numbers,” Ashwin said.
The former Indian cricketer also commended the franchise for their consistency over the years, crediting the dedication of both players and management to their process for their ongoing success.
“They’ve shown remarkable consistency over the years with this approach, and credit goes to both the management and the players for sticking to their process and getting the job done under pressure,” Ashwin added.
Ashwin singled out Washington Sundar’s significant contribution that played a pivotal role in leading the Gujarat Titans to victory. Sundar remained unbeaten on 40 off 23 balls, including five fours and a six, helping seal the win in the 19.5th over.
“Washington Sundar’s innings was extremely important because it addressed a key question around the Gujarat Titans’ middle order. While a lot of their runs come from the top three, contributions like this show the depth they have. Sundar has often been used as a flexible option, but he stepped up, handled the pressure well, and ensured the chase was completed,” Ashwin explained.
He concluded by describing Sundar's performance as a clinical and composed effort, vital in securing victory in a high-pressure situation. “It might not have looked flashy, but it was a very composed and clinical effort to get the team over the line.”
In the match, Gujarat Titans defeated table-toppers Punjab Kings by four wickets in a last-over thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium. The victory was supported by Jason Holder's four-wicket haul and crucial batting contributions from Sai Sudharsan and Washington Sundar.
Punjab Kings posted 163/9 after recovering from an early collapse through a 79-run partnership between Suryansh Shedge (57) and Marcus Stoinis (40), but Holder's 4/24 restricted their total.
In reply, Gujarat Titans chased down 164 runs in 19.5 overs despite losing early wickets. Sudharsan anchored the innings with 57 runs, while Sundar finished unbeaten on 40, sealing the win with a six.
This victory moved Gujarat Titans to sixth place with 12 points, while Punjab Kings remained top of the table with 13 points.
Holder received the Player of the Match award for his match-defining bowling figures of 4/24 in 4 overs.