Data Shorts: Rabada rediscovers his new-ball magic

Gujarat Titans have had a mixed run with the ball in the IPL since 2025. Prasidh Krishna led the way last year as Mohammed Siraj's new ball numbers tapered off, and Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada endured their worst season in terms of average and economy-rates. That contributed to GT having the worst numbers for overseas bowlers among the 10 teams in IPL 2025: 13 wickets at 64.38 (SR: 37.8, ER: 10.2).

While Rashid remains distant from his best, GT have got desired results from Rabada thrice in four games now. He had combined returns of 2/90 from eight overs in the Powerplay from his first four outings, but has redeemed himself with 7/88 from 11 across the next four. In three of them, he bowled unchanged through the powerplay. On Sunday, he got rid of Sanju Samson and bounced out Urvil Patel, his 2/16 restricting CSK to 28/3, the second-lowest powerplay score in the tournament.

Rabada managed just two wickets from four outings in IPL 2025 (ER: 11.57), extending his underwhelming run in the Impact Player era. He now has as many wickets with the new ball in 2026 as he had across the last three editions.

His nine wickets in Overs 1-6 is the most by anyone in the tournament, followed by Jofra Archer's eight. Of 38 bowlers to have delivered at least five overs in this phase, the percentage of false-shots he has induced (34.6%) is bettered only by Nandre Burger (37.1%).

Rabada in Overs 1-6 in the IPL since 2023

The striking feature of his new-ball exploits has been the high speeds he's operated at, getting the away swinger going which has accounted for four of his nine scalps. Batters have been beaten comprehensively by pace — Suryakumar Yadav dismissed by a 152.1 kmph delivery seaming in to shatter the stumps. Urvil Patel was undone by a 149.2 kmph bumper, Samson by a 148.2 kmph rising delivery.

His opening spell on Sunday was clocked at an average speed of 145 kmph. Batters have managed to score heavily off his full length deliveries, while shorter ones have done the damage.

Rabada by lengths in Overs 1-6 in IPL 2026

He has had far superior numbers against right-handers compared to lefties. He had an even split of balls bowled to righties (49%) and lefties (51%) in the first four games, compared to 80.9% and 19.1% in the recent four.

Rabada in Overs 1-6 in the IPL since 2023

With Rabada among the wickets and Siraj going at just 6.71, GT have been one of the better bowling sides in the powerplay, their economy of 8.5 only bettered by LSG (7.27). However, twice in three games, inefficiency at the back end neutralised the damage done at the top. They have conceded a boundary once every four balls in the last eight overs while going at 10.69, the worst on both counts among the 10 teams. Should their new-ball pair continue to sizzle, they'll still need more from Rashid and the rest in the latter phase.