Rajasthan Royals edged Gujarat Titans by six runs, thanks to Tushar Deshpande’s calm final over.
Earlier, Rajasthan posted 210/6, powered by Dhruv Jurel, who scored 75 off 42, and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made 55 off 36.
In reply, the Gujarat Titans fought hard, led by Sai Sudharsan’s 73 off 44. Late contributions from Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada brought the target within reach, as the Titans needed 15 off the last 12 deliveries.
However, Gujarat managed only four runs in the penultimate over bowled by England pacer Jofra Archer. With 11 needed from the final over, Deshpande held his nerve, allowing only four runs and taking the wicket of Khan to seal Rajasthan’s second consecutive win, pushing them to the top of the table.
“(The last two overs) was just incredible,” Rajasthan captain Riyan Parag said. “Took a chance to go full and fast and the boys delivered,” Parag admitted. Deshpande was to bowl the 19th and Archer the last, but he was persuaded to switch by Jurel.
To set up their imposing total, Rajasthan started strong, with Jaiswal and 15-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi adding 70 off 38 balls.
Suryavanshi made a brisk 31, inclusive of five fours and a six, while Jaiswal followed up with a solid 50 off 32 balls. Jaiswal and Jurel added another key partnership, adding 56 runs before Jaiswal was bowled by Rabada.
Building on this, Jurel powered the score past 200 in the 19th over with an aggressive knock of multiple sixes and fours before falling in the 20th over.
Gujarat responded to Rajasthan’s total with Sudharsan scoring 50 off 33 balls in a 78-run opening stand with Kumar Kushagra, but lost momentum after his dismissal in the 11th over.
Momentum shifted when Ravi Bishnoi turned the game with four wickets, reducing Gujarat to 133 for five by the 14th over.
Despite late resistance from Khan and Rabada, Rajasthan’s bowlers held firm in the final overs to seal the win.
