Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and chose to bowl first, aware of Gujarat Titans’ strong record while chasing. Initially, it seemed like the right decision, as Jofra Archer dismissed the opener early for just 2 runs. As usual, GT’s top three batters scored most of the runs, with Sai Sudharsan making 82 and Buttler contributing 36.
However, when he and Sherfane Rutherford lost their wickets, GT’s middle order was tested for the first time this season. Shahrukh Khan played a quickfire knock of 36, while Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan also chipped in with multiple boundaries. The Titans posted a total of 217 runs.
The Royals had a completely opposite start, losing two wickets for just 12 runs. The Titans’ four fast bowlers each took wickets, doing their job effectively. Captain Samson and Riyan Parag tried to counterattack but were dismissed after scoring 41 and 26 runs respectively.
Shimron Hetmyer fought like a lone warrior, scoring a gritty fifty off just 32 balls. However, once he was dismissed, the Royals’ hopes of a comeback faded. Spinners Rashid and Sai Kishore shared four wickets as GT defeated RR by 58 runs and secured their fourth consecutive win of the season. With 8 points, they now sit at the top of the points table. Meanwhile, trouble continues for the Royals, who have won only 2 of their 5 matches so far.
Fans react to Gujarat Titans’ comfortable victory over Rajasthan Royals
Given Gujarat Titans’ form this season, fans had anticipated the result. However, they didn’t expect the match to be this one-sided. Many praised coach Ashish Nehra for his strategy and the work behind GT’s success. One fan even called him the coolest coach in the IPL.
One fan questioned Gill’s contribution to the match, as the promising right-hander was dismissed for just 2 runs by an unplayable delivery from Archer. Another fan pointed out an interesting fact — GT is the only title-winning team performing well this season. Here are some of the top fan reactions:
A CSK fan was upset that head coach Stephen Fleming didn’t get the credit he deserved. One user praised Gill’s captaincy and even called him the future captain of the Indian national team. Another expressed disappointment with RR’s batting, pointing out that seven players failed to reach double digits in runs.