RR vs GT

Peaking at the right time, well that is exactly what GT are doing. They are at number 2 now, a huge result for them tonight and they have pushed RR out of the top-4 spots leaving them with some work to do for sure. Tomorrow, it will be a double-header Sunday with CSK vs LSG in Chennai in the afternoon before the action moves to Raipur for the first time in the season as RCB host MI. A big day coming up, make sure you join us. For now, this is Sourabh Agrawal signing off on behalf of Pradeep and everyone else in the team. Cheers!

Rashid Khan is the Player of the Match for his spell of 4/33, here are his words: Quite happy, it was unusual for me in the last couple of seasons. I have been more consistent this year, happy with that. When I had the back surgery, I took only two months to get back on the field which was a big mistake from me. But, I had to come back for Afghanistan. Last year after the IPL, I had a good break, got back my rhythm through the crease and then had a good competition at The Hundred, carried on from there

The moment I bowled the first ball, I knew there was something for me there in the pitch. It was important to hit the lengths and even more than that the line was important, keeping it within the three stumps. (on Ferreira's dismissal) I had that in my mind, I had played that movie in my mind. I knew if I bowled that line, there was help for me in the wicket. (working with young GT spinners) It is so good, important to have players around you. They have played a lot in India, whenever I come here I share my experience of playing in different conditions. Someone like Sai Kishore is working really hard on different variations, really excited to see him bowl the wrong one in the future

Shubman Gill (GT captain): Even before this match, we had a conversation that we had not a perfect match. This was a clean win for us. We got 10-15 extra on the board. There was something in it for the spinners, it was gripping a bit. We always knew a couple of wickets in the powerplay would be great. (was 250 on the cards?) That is what we thought too but it was not easy to hit the spinners through the line, there was a phase in between where we did not hit boundaries but then we got the big finish. (on their bowling plans) We believe that bowling your best bowlers early and give them a chance to attack is the best way to go with the impact sub and also on these wickets. Keep attacking and keep taking wickets. (on his foot injury) I twisted my ankle while taking a run, it was very painful then but it was fine after half an hour or so

Kagiso Rabada, the Purple Cap holder now: [On leading the bowling attack and wearing the Purple Cap]“I think everyone in the group is determined and giving their all. For me, it’s about performing my role to the best of my ability. The bowling unit has been working really well together, and we’re all pushing in the same direction.”[On bowling to Vaibhav Suryavanshi]“I guess what’s worked for me over the last 11 years continues to work. A lot of hard work goes in behind the scenes, along with analysis of batters and their weaknesses, but out in the middle it’s still about sticking to your strengths and backing your plans.”[On managing workload and staying fresh late in the season]“My body feels good, but this is the stage of the tournament where mental fatigue can start to creep in as well. It’s important to stay fresh and stay on top of the professional side of the game, especially towards the back end of a long season.”[On variations and slower balls]“I try not to focus on developing too many slower balls because that can sometimes take attention away from the core things I need to work on. I haven’t used them much this season, but when the situation demands it, I’m confident enough to go to them.”

Yashasvi Jaiswal [Rajasthan Royals captain]: [On Gujarat Titans’ blistering start] "I think we were trying to hit good areas, but they batted really well and kept the pressure on us from the start. Our focus was on trying to cut down the boundaries and the big shots, but credit to them for the way they played.”[On Jofra Archer having an off night]“It’s part of cricket. There are days when things go your way and days when they don’t. Jofra has been outstanding for us this season, and I’m sure he’ll come back strongly.”[On the team combination and powerplay plans]“I didn’t overthink too much. The idea was simple — back the bowlers we felt could give us good overs in the powerplay and stick to the plan.”[On moving forward after another defeat]"We’ll look at what we could have done better and take the learnings into the next game. The focus now is on improving and coming back stronger.”

11:05 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Gujarat Titans (229/4 in 20 overs) beat Rajasthan Royals (152 all-out in 16.3 overs) by 77 runs

Shubman Gill 84(44) | Rashid Khan 4/33(4)
Ravindra Jadeja 38(25) | Brijesh Sharma 2/47(4)

Biggest ever win for Gujarat Titans in their history, they have thumped Rajasthan Royals by 77 runs making it 4 wins in a row for the 2022 champs who have jumped as high as number 2 on the points table leapfrogging the likes of PBKS, RCB and RR themselves who have been dealt a body blow tonight pushing the home side out of the top-4 spots

Many said that GT were a bowling team with their batters having a limited ceiling but the match was beautifully set up by the men with the bat tonight. A 118-run opening stand between Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, both got fifties and Gill went on to make 84 and then his finishers in Sundar and Tewatia did the job towards the end following the words of the skipper at the toss who mentioned they needed 10-15 runs extra for their bowlers

In the end, it turned out a lot more than that as GT bowlers continued their stellar run in the comp and performed as a well-oiled unit again. RR always needed a special performance chasing down 230 against this strong bowling lineup, they needed their two young left-handed openers to come to the party more than ever. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi did put on a show early in the chase, he smashed both Siraj and Rabada with the new ball before a sharp bumper from Siraj ended his stay

Rabada got the purple cap then got into the act with a couple of wickets more in the powerplay sending back the stand-in skipper Jaiswal and Hetmyer for low scores. Jurel did play a lovely little cameo of 10-ball 24 but it needed to be a lot more than a cameo. Rashid Khan's magic was on display in the middle overs as he spun a web around RR's middle order just killing the run chase there and then with his leg breaks

Jadeja was the top-scorer for RR with 38, it was an under-par performance with the bat from them as it was with the ball from the home side who were taught a lesson by their opponents who were right on top of their game. GT continue their journey upwards while RR are falling into a downward spiral now

16.3 Jason Holder to Tushar Deshpande, OUT! MILES UP IN THE AIR AND TAKEN! And, it's all over. Titans thump the Royals in Jaipur. That is a comprehensive win, one that GT will be proud about tonight. Banged in short, Deshpande hangs back to pull, hurries and top edged it straight up. Sundar at point, takes a sitter to seal the game.

16.2 Jason Holder to Brijesh Sharma, OH MY! Would've been all over had the fielder hit the stumps, Deshpande took off. Sharma taps the length delivery, hesitates to take off. Sai Sudharsan needed the direct-hit.

16.1 Jason Holder to Dasun Shanaka, OUT! TOP EDGED AND TAKEN BY GILL! That is the ninth wicket to fall for RR, GT one wicket away with that. Banged in short, Shanaka hangs back to pull, but finds a big top edge. Gill settles under it at mid-off, makes no mistake.

10 from Siraj's final over, he will finish with 1/55 as Shanaka keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. 24 balls left, he would like to face as many as he can here. 79 more needed