Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Indian Premier League homecoming went awry as Gujarat Titans registered a thumping eight-wicket victory with more than two overs to spare at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Wednesday (April 2, 2025).
A fiery fast-bowling performance from RCB old-timer Mohammed Siraj (three for 19) and an effervescent batting effort from Jos Buttler (73 n.o., 39b, 5×4, 6×6) brought Titans their second victory from three matches even as it handed RCB its first defeat in three.
Chasing a modest 170, the visitors did not set the PowerPlay ablaze, scoring just 42 runs for the loss of skipper Shubman Gill (14, 14b, 1×4, 1×6). But Buttler’s calculated assault in the middle overs ensured that the Titans were always ahead of the curve.
The 34-year-old attacked Impact Player Rasikh Dar, smoking him for two sixes on the leg-side in the ninth over, and then carted Liam Livingstone for a six and a four in the 15th to bring up his half-century from 31 balls.
Impact Player Sherfane Rutherford proved the ideal partner (30 n.o., 18b, 1×4, 3×6) and the two smashed Josh Hazlewood for three sixes in the 18th over to bring the contest to a manic end.
Put in to bat, RCB was reeling at 42 for four as the Titans’ pace trio of Siraj, Arshad Khan and Ishant Sharma bowled short and into the body and reaped the right rewards.
Virat Kohli was out caught at long-leg off Arshad while Phil Salt was cleaned up by Siraj, who also went on to rearrange Devdutt Padikkal’s stumps. Skipper Rajat Patidar was trapped in front by Ishant. But Livingstone (54, 40b, 1×4, 5×6) combined for 52 runs with a hustling Jitesh Sharma (33, 21b, 5×4, 1×6) and for 46 runs with the towering Tim David (32, 18b, 3×4, 2×6).
The 31-year-old was reprieved by Rahul Tewatia at long-on when on nine and he duly capitalised. At one stage, he was on 35 from 34 balls but took a special liking to Rashid Khan and caned the leggie for 39 off just 17 deliveries.
The three maximums in the 18th gave RCB the final kick that helped it amass 64 from the last five overs. But in the end, even that proved inadequate.
SCOREBOARD
ROYAL CHALLENGERS
Phil Salt b Siraj 14 (13b, 1×4, 1×6), Virat Kohli c Prasidh b Arshad 7 (6b, 1×4), Devdutt Padikkal b Siraj 4 (3b, 1×4), Rajat Patidar lbw b Ishant 12 (12b, 2×4), Liam Livingstone c Buttler b Siraj 54 (40b, 1×4, 5×6), Jitesh Sharma c Tewatia b Sai Kishore 33 (21b, 5×4, 1×6), Krunal Pandya c & b Sai Kishore 5 (5b, 1×4), Tim David b Prasidh 32 (18b, 3×4, 2×6), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (not out) 1 (2b); Extras (lb-4, w-3): 7; Total (for eight wkts. in 20 overs): 169.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-8 (Kohli, 1.4 overs), 2-13 (Padikkal, 2.2), 3-35 (Salt, 4.4), 4-42 (Patidar, 6.2), 5-94 (Jitesh, 12.4), 6-104 (Krunal, 14.2), 7-150 (Livingstone, 18.2), 8-169 (David, 19.6).
TITANS BOWLING
Siraj 4-0-19-3, Arshad 2-0-17-1, Prasidh 4-0-26-1, Ishant 2-0-27-1, Sai Kishore 4-0-22-2, Rashid 4-0-54-0.
GUJARAT TITANS
B. Sai Sudharsan c Jitesh b Hazlewood 49 (36b, 7×4, 1×6), Shubman Gill c Livingstone b Bhuvneshwar 14 (14b, 1×4, 1×6), Jos Buttler (not out) 73 (39b, 5×4, 6×6), Sherfane Rutherford (Impact Player for Ishant) (not out) 30 (18b, 1×4, 3×6); Extras (lb-3, w-1): 4; Total (for two wkts. in 17.5 overs): 170.
FALL OF WICKETS
1-32 (Gill, 4.4), 2-107 (Sai Sudharsan, 12.3)
RCB BOWLING
Bhuvneshwar 4-0-23-1, Hazlewood 3.5-0-43-1, Dayal 3-0-20-0, Rasikh (Impact Player for Padikkal) 3-0-35-0, Krunal 3-0-34-0, Livingstone 1-0-12-0.
Toss: Titans.
PoM: Siraj.
Titans win at a canter
Buttler (73) and Rutherford (30) took Gujarat home with eight wickets and 2.1 overs to spare. Sai Sudharsan (49) and Gill (14) were out.
Published – April 02, 2025 07:50 pm IST