Former Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has showered praise on Kagiso Rabada after Gujarat Titans registered a four-wicket win against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Sunday.

Rabada returned with impressive figures of 2-22 in his quota of four overs. The Proteas seamer accounted for in-form PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh and top-scorer Suryansh Shedge. Thus, he played an instrumental role in restricting the opposition to 163-9 after Gill decided to bowl first.

Ravichandran Ashwin said on his YouTube Channel, “It feels like he has been spiritually possessed. He is not just bowling fast but letting thunderbolts go. Prabhsimran Singh literally went to a side facing him with his back leg frozen. Rabada set the tempo for GT. The way he bowled to Prabhsimran almost makes the batter want to go away.”

Ashwin also praised GT all-rounder Jason Holder, who bagged 4-24 in his four overs and was awarded Player of the Match.

“The ball literally goes into his hands for catches. Shreyas Iyer has been on song in this IPL. Yet, Holder troubled him and dismissed him.”

The former all-rounder reckons GT’s bowling attack makes Shubman Gill’s life easier as a leader.

“You are only as good as your bowlers and overall team. When you have Siraj, Rabada, Holder, and Rashid Khan, you’ll look good. The bowlers can make a captain look intelligent or foolish. The bowlers in this attack will always bowl to their fields. That itself is half the job done for a captain,” said Ashwin (via the aforementioned source).

“He has a high-quality attack that executes well, which works to his advantage. But he is able to use Rashid Khan well despite him still not being at his best and bowling too full. Gill still uses him in the end overs and gets away with it.”

Gujarat Titans will next take on Rajasthan Royals at Jaipur on Saturday.