By David Knowles.
The Gujarat Titans showed no mercy with a dominant nine-wicket trouncing of a struggling Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur, chasing a mediocre target of 119 in 13.4 overs to sit comfortably on top of the 10-team standings with 14 points.
Light work was made of the low total as Titans openers Shubman Gill (36), coming in as an impact player replacing Mohit Sharma, and Wriddhiman Saha with an undefeated 41, posted 71 for the first wicket, setting the platform for what proved an easy win with 37 balls to spare, the biggest victory relating to balls remaining in this year’s IPL.
Titans captain Hardik Pandya wasted no time in smashing 39 from 15 balls, hitting three sixes and a four in an over from Australian wrist spinner Adam Zampa, silencing the home crowd and adding more woes to the Royals’ run of late which has included just one victory in their last five matches. Yuzvendra Chahal was the only successful bowler with 1-22 in 3.5 overs.
This after Royals captain Sanju Samson won the toss and opted to bat on a wicket which had both captains guessing. It turned out to be the wrong call as the Titans legspinners, Rashid Khan (3-14) and Noor Ahmad (2-25), delivered a masterclass of slow bowling, never allowing the Royals batsmen to get a grip on matters.
At 50 for two after the powerplay there was no indication of the collapse to come, as Samson’s 30 was the best effort with only four batsmen reaching double figures. A second-wicket partnership of 36 between Samson and Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only one of hope, the Royals scratching their way to 100 in 15 overs and being bowled out for 118 in 17.5 overs. Even bringing in Riyan Parag as an impact player in an attempt to give some momentum to the Royals’ batting failed in an evening they will want to forget.
Besides Khan and Noor’s efforts, Mohammed Shami, Josh Little and Pandya bagged a wicket apiece and there were two run-outs as the wobbly Royals added to their frustrations in the middle with some poor communication.
Khan was man of the match.
ROYALS: Buttler, Jaiswal, Samson, Padikkal, Jurel, Hetmyer, Ashwin, Boult, Zampa, Sandeep, Chahal
SUBS: Root, Parag, Asif, Kuldip Yadav, M Ashwin
TITANS: Saha, Hardik, Shankar, Manohar, Miller, Tewatia, Rashid, Mohit, Noor, Shami, Little
SUBS: Gill, Sudharsan, Bharat, Mavi, Sai Kishore.