In a nail-biting Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match at Jaipur, the Gujarat Titans (GT) clinched a thrilling three-wicket victory over the Rajasthan Royals (RR), thanks to outstanding performances by Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia, and Rashid Khan. The win pushed GT to the sixth position in the league standings, with three wins from six games.
The chase for a daunting 197 began cautiously with openers Gill and Sai Sudarshan laying a solid foundation. Despite losing quick wickets after a 64-run opening stand, Gill’s impressive half-century set the stage for a dramatic finish. As rain caused a brief interruption, the momentum seemed to shift towards Rajasthan with quick wickets post-resumption.
However, the real action unfolded in the last few overs when GT required 51 runs from 18 balls. Tewatia and Khan stepped up, smashing crucial boundaries and bringing the equation down to 15 required off the final over. In a cinematic finish, Khan struck a boundary off the last ball to secure a win, scoring an unbeaten 24 off 11 balls.
Earlier, Rajasthan’s innings was bolstered by Riyan Parag and Sanju Samson, who contributed a robust 130-run partnership, propelling RR to 196/3. Parag top-scored with 76 runs, while Samson provided a steady 68 not out. The duo’s partnership came after early wickets had left RR in a precarious position.
For Rajasthan, Kuldip Sen was the standout bowler, capturing three wickets, but his effort was not enough to stave off GT’s late onslaught. The match highlighted the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket and underscored the importance of finishing strong in the IPL.
Brief score: Rajasthan Royals 196/3 (Sanju Samson 68*, Riyan Parag 76; Rashid Khan 1-18) vs Gujarat Titans: 199/7 (Shubman Gill 72, Sai Sudarshan 35, Kuldip Sen 3/41).
