Gujarat crushed Rajasthan by 9 wickets on their home ground

Bishamber Yadav, Mumbai Uncensored, 9th May 2023:

The Titans solidified their position atop the rankings. With 14 points from 10 games, they have three more than the second-place Lucknow Super Giants. With five victories and just as many losses in 10 games, the Royals held onto fourth place.

Gujarat, the visiting team, breezed through the modest 119 run chase, finishing with nine wickets remaining in just 13.5 overs.

Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill, the openers, added a steady 71 runs in 9.4 overs to ensure that there were no snags in the chase (Saha was 41 not out off 34 balls and Gill was 36 off 35). Hardik Pandya, the captain, in as the third batsman after Gill left and got started right away. In his brief stint, Hardik smoked three sixes and three fours while scoring an undefeated 39 off only 15 balls.

At the conclusion of the powerplay, GT were 49 for no loss. Saha and Gill both got off to a fast start against RR pacer Trent Boult, smacking the left-armer for a few fours apiece within the powerplay.

Gill was stumped by Yuzvendra Chahal in the tenth over, but the Titans’ juggernaut was unaffected by the victory.

Pandya pounded RR’s Adam Zampa hard, hitting the leg-spinner for three sixes and a four to score 24 runs in the 11th over and speed up the process.

Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad of the Titans defeated the Royals earlier in the first half, causing them to forfeit and be dismissed for a meagre score. The two Afghan spinners shared five wickets.

What a game this was for Hardik

This is a great effort by Pandya after he played a lethargic knock against the Capitals in the previous game. He basically raised the stakes in this situation when he took the plate. The Royals’ NRR has taken a serious hit as a result of this. The Gujarat Titans are 107/1 after 12.1 overs.

In the Zampa over, the Titans captain hammered three sixes and a boundary. This strike from Hardik is of the greatest calibre. He appears to be serious about getting this done, and it probably will in the next 10 to 15 minutes, people.  The Gujarat Titans are 98/1 after 11.1 overs.

Shubman Gill leaves

Chahal transports Gill. The ball pitches and makes a quick turn. Gill runs down the track but is defeated by the delivery’s flight and is stumped. For the Royals, this wicket serves as a consolation.  The Gujarat Titans are 72/1 after 10 overs.

The Royals failed to put any form of pressure on the batting time in an effort to defend a meagre score. To make this game even somewhat competitive for the Royals, at least, requires a miracle. We might see a 10-wicket victory in this match since both hitters are in excellent form. Gujarat Titans are 62/0 after 8.1 overs.