The Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur witnessed a heart-stopping finish in Match 24 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 as Gujarat Titans (GT) pulled off a remarkable heist against the previously unbeaten Rajasthan Royals (RR).
The Royals, after posting a competitive 196/3 on the board, seemed on top as the Titans required a daunting 35 runs off the final 12 deliveries with only four wickets remaining. RR captain, Sanju Samson, opted for Kuldeep Sen, their pick of the bowlers, over the experienced Trent Boult for this crucial over. While Kuldeep had figures of 3-21 in his initial spell, hindsight suggests it might not have been the best call.
Rashid Khan’s Power Play In Death Overs
Kuldeep started well, conceding only 7 runs off his first three deliveries. However, drama unfolded on the fourth ball when he overstepped, handing a free hit to the dangerous Rashid Khan. Khan capitalized with a towering six over covers, followed by a boundary off the next legal delivery from Kuldeep. This over yielded a crucial 20 runs, tilting the balance of the match towards Gujarat.
With 15 runs required off the final over, the Royals entrusted their death-bowling specialist, Avesh Khan. However, Rashid continued his onslaught, smashing two boundaries off Avesh, who was further hampered by a fielder being short due to Rajasthan’s slow over rate.
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Rashid Seals the Win, Gujarat Titans Celebrate
The equation boiled down to two runs needed off the last ball. Rashid, unfazed by the pressure, dispatched a scorching cut shot to the boundary, sending the Titans dugout into a frenzy. He pointed towards the pitch in celebration, signifying his dominance.
Here’s the video:
𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙈𝙖𝙣 delivered yet again 😎
🎥 Relive the thrilling end to a thrilling @gujarat_titans win!
Recap the match on @starsportsindia & @Jiocinema 💻 📱#TATAIPL | #RRvGT pic.twitter.com/eXDDvpToZ0
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2024
Shubman Gill’s Grit and Rahul Tewatia’s Cameo Lay the Foundation
While Rashid stole the show in the final overs, credit must be given to Shubman Gill‘s gritty knock of 72 runs that kept the Titans in the hunt. Rahul Tewatia‘s supporting cameo also proved crucial in their chase.
WHAT. A. WIN 🔥🔥
The pair of R & R has done it against #RR 👏👏
Rahul Tewatia & Rashid Khan pull off a famous win in Jaipur 👏👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/1HcL9A97Ch#TATAIPL | #RRvGT pic.twitter.com/eImggsoNKB
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 10, 2024
The Royals, on the other hand, will be left ruing their decision to bowl the final over with a fielder short and their captain’s bowling choices.
Also READ: Twitter reactions – Shubman Gill’s GT ends RR’s winning streak in IPL 2024
This dramatic encounter marked the Titans’ arrival as serious contenders in the IPL 2024, while the Royals suffered their first defeat of the season in a way they’ll likely want to forget.
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