Former India opener Gautam Gambhir singled out star all-rounder Jason Holder for praise after Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Eliminator of IPL 2020 on Friday. SRH had registered a six-wicket win over RCB in the knockout game after an all-round display from the West Indies star.
Holder finished with the best figures with the ball for Sunrisers as he picked up a three-wicket haul while conceding only 25 runs in his quota of 4 overs to bundle out Virat Kohli & Co. on a paltry 131. Later, he scored 24 off 20 balls with the bat and delivered under pressure in the chase to take his team over the line.
Holder played an instrumental role in SRH’s turnaround this season ever since his inclusion into the squad. He was included in the side at the expense of wicket-keeper and opener Jonny Bairstow and did well to keep his spot in the eleven. Holder had gone unsold at the IPL player auction last year before SRH roped him as a replacement for Mitchell Marsh during IPL 2020.
Praising Holder for his all-round heroics, Gambhir expressed surprise at the fact that Holder failed to find a buyer at the auction last year despite his credentials in international cricket where he captains West Indies in Tests. Gambhir lauded Holder for showing character under pressure for SRH against RCB.
“It was very surprising for me that no one actually went after someone like Jason Holder. Jimmy Neesham was picked, Chris Morris was picked, other allrounders were picked. But Holder, who plays two formats, continues to play international cricket for a team which struggles in a Test and one-day format. So you’re always under the pump, always under pressure to deliver,” Gambhir said on ESPNCricinfo.
“When you’re in such a situation most of the time in international cricket, obviously you know how to handle that pressure and that is something which we’ve always spoken about, how important it is for overseas players to handle the pressure of the IPL,” he added.
