Gujarat Titans (GT) handed Rajasthan Royals (RR) their first defeat of IPL 2024 on Wednesday, successfully chasing 197 off the final ball at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. GT skipper Shubman Gill said he would have loved to finish the game on his own, but lauded Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia for getting the job done for the team. With GT needing 15 off the final over, Tewatia (22 in 11 balls) and Rashid (24 not out in 11 balls) combined to put the 2022 champions across the finishing line, with the latter hitting the winning boundary off Avesh Khan.
After the match, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle congratulated Gill as GT ended RR’s unbeaten run, but suggested that his side left it too late to get the job done.
However, Gill responded by saying that when GT are playing, no target is safe.
“Well done, you got 2 points tonight. I must admit some of us thought you left it too late, but well done today,” Bhogle told Gill.
The GT skipper responded, saying: “Thank you. When we are playing, don’t think like that.”
Speaking in the post-match presentation, the GT skipper added, “We were targeting 45 in three overs and that is very much gettable, and that was the mindset. Mathematically, it is like both batters need to score 9-ball 22 runs or so and if one of the batters goes berserk, it will get over two-three balls prior.”
Talking about his dismissal and Rashid-Tewatia’s finishing, Gill said, “I would have loved to finish the game but very happy with the way Rashid bhai and Rahul bhai finished the game. Last game also, we dominated more than 50 per cent but our bad phases were very bad. Winning the game off the last ball is a wonderful feeling. He (Rashid) is such a fantastic player, someone you always want in your team.
GT is now in the sixth spot in the table, with three wins and three losses, giving them six points. RR have suffered their first loss after four wins and with eight points, they are still at the top of the tally.
Rashid took home the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
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