The highly talked-about batting-friendly conditions of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in IPL 2025 were relegated to the background on Wednesday, as Gujarat Titans (GT) produced a clinical performance to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) by eight wickets. GT's bowlers laid the foundation early, and their batsmen made it a leisurely chase, recording their second win of the season.
Choosing to bat first, GT stamped their authority right from the start. Ex-RCB bowler Mohammed Siraj, now playing in GT colours, served a scorching spell, taking 3-19 in four overs. Taking no prisoners in his assault on the stumps, Siraj left RCB at 42/4, hushing the home crowd and earning him later the Player of the Match award.
Though the early collapse, Liam Livingstone resisted with a determined 54 off 40 balls, as Jitesh Sharma (33) and Tim David (32) also showed much-needed support. Their presence helped RCB reach a respectable 169/8. But GT's pursuit was carried out with finesse, led by Jos Buttler's match-winning 72* off 39 balls, inclusive of five fours and six sixes.
Buttler anchored 75-run partnerships with B. Sai Sudharsan (49) and a 63 not out with Sherfane Rutherford (30*), keeping GT in the driver's seat. They reached the target with 13 balls to spare, making the chase look easy.
RCB's Innings: Siraj Leads the Charge
A greenish pitch with nice length coverage benefited GT's pacers. Kohli looked dangerous at first with a elegant cover drive against Siraj, but he got out shortly after that, pulling one straight to deep square leg against Arshad Khan.
There was some pyrotechnics from Phil Salt in the shape of a huge 105m six, but that was quickly mopped up by the scrambled seam delivery of Siraj. Devdutt Padikkal was dismissed off a nice inswinger from Siraj, and Rajat Patidar was bowled LBW by Ishant Sharma, leaving RCB in peril at 42/4 in 6.2 overs.
Jitesh Sharma led a counter-attack, hitting Ishant, R Sai Kishore, and Rashid Khan for boundaries. Livingstone, after having a close shave early on, made the most of the reprieve with a flurry of sixes against Rashid, reaching his fifty off 39 balls. But his stay was brought to an end when he edged a wide Siraj delivery to the keeper.
Tim David contributed vital late runs, smashing Krishna for two fours and two sixes before being bowled by a laser yorker in the last over. RCB scored 64 runs from the last five overs to post a total of 170.
GT's Chase: Buttler's Brilliance
GT's pursuit started at a gentle pace, with Sudharsan hitting classy strokes, including a scoop and a straight drive for boundaries off Josh Hazlewood. Shubman Gill sent long-on over Bhuvneshwar Kumar, but the experienced bowler struck back, getting rid of the GT captain with an edge to deep third man.
At 42/1 towards the end of the powerplay, Buttler and Sudharsan put together a sturdy foundation. Buttler dismantled Rasikh Salam for two sixes during the ninth over, while Sudharsan cut and pulled with ease. Yash Dayal and Krunal Pandya were cleaned out as well as GT piled on the score.
RCB's expectations were fanned when Hazlewood knocked over Sudharsan with a brief ball, behind the wickets by Jitesh Sharma. Sherfane Rutherford was soon in flow, upper-cutting Krunal for a six and hitting Hazlewood over the covers.
Buttler made certain that there were no late surprises, reaching his half-century off 31 balls and finishing the chase comfortably. Rutherford put the seal on the win in style, pulling Hazlewood over the ropes to seal GT's commanding victory.
Brief Scores:
RCB: 169/8 in 20 overs (Liam Livingstone 54, Jitesh Sharma 33; Mohammed Siraj 3-19, R Sai Kishore 2-22)
GT: 170/2 in 17.5 overs (Jos Buttler 72*, B. Sai Sudharsan 49; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1-23, Josh Hazlewood 1-43)
GT won by 8 wickets.
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