Gujarat notches a 4-wicket win over Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Pixabay)
Ahmedabad, India – Gujarat Titans delivered a strong statement in the Indian Premier League by defeating defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru by four wickets on Thursday. The home side chased down a modest target of 156 with ample overs to spare, avenging a narrow loss to the same opponents just a week earlier. Captain Shubman Gill’s aggressive batting set the tone early in the pursuit, while the bowling unit staged a remarkable recovery after a fiery opening from Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli.
Bengaluru’s Explosive Open but Quick Collapse
Virat Kohli provided Bengaluru with a blistering start, hammering Kagiso Rabada for five boundaries in the second over alone. That onslaught put immediate pressure on Gujarat’s pace attack. However, Rabada regrouped swiftly, dismissing Kohli for 28 off just 10 balls with a sharp short delivery that induced a top edge to mid-wicket.
The middle order failed to build on the momentum. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 40, but he fell to Rashid Khan, playing onto his stumps. Impact substitute Venkatesh Iyer managed only 12 runs off 15 balls, holing out in the final over. Gujarat’s bowlers restricted Bengaluru to 155 all out, with the last six overs yielding just 29 runs.
Gujarat’s Pacers Seal the Low Total
Gujarat’s four-pronged pace battery proved decisive. Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed 3-28 in his four overs, including key wickets that disrupted Bengaluru’s flow. Romario Shepherd contributed 2-30, removing Shahrukh Khan and Washington Sundar in the same over.
Arshad Khan impressed with 3-22, while Jason Holder took 2-29 and pulled off three stunning catches, one a diving effort to dismiss captain Rajat Patidar. Rashid Khan added 2-19 to his figures. This collective effort limited Bengaluru despite the flat pitch conditions.
Gill Ignites the Chase with Record Over
Shubman Gill mirrored Kohli’s aggression right from the outset. Facing Josh Hazlewood in the first over of the chase, Gill smashed 24 runs, including two fours, two sixes, and another boundary. That explosive start propelled Gujarat forward as they reached the target in 15.5 overs.
Jos Buttler complemented the assault with 39 off 19 balls, clearing the ropes four times. Rahul Tewatia, entering as impact player, remained unbeaten on 27 off 17 to guide the team home at 158-6. Gill fell for 43, but the foundation was solid.
What matters now:
- Bengaluru hold second place with 12 points.
- Gujarat climb to fifth with 10 points.
- Last week’s five-wicket loss for Gujarat came after posting 205-3.
Captains Reflect on Key Turning Points
Gill expressed satisfaction with the performance. “Feels very satisfying,” he said. “On a wicket like this, restricting them to under 160 was a tremendous job by the bowlers. Our fielding was one of the things … and how we came back together (after the second over) was pleasing.”
Bengaluru skipper Rajat Patidar acknowledged the shortcomings. “The score was not good enough on this track,” Patidar said. “The way Shubman played, he played beautifully and put pressure on us. We gave a lot of wickets in the middle and that kept us in the backseat. It’s a long way (to go) and we will take it one game at a time. We are not looking at the table. Our aim is to play good cricket.”
This result underscores Gujarat’s resilience and bowling depth, positioning them well for the remainder of the IPL campaign. Bengaluru must regroup to maintain their top-two contention amid a tight points race.