Gujarat Titans vs Royal Challengers Bangalore: Titans retained their top spot while RCB slips to fifth
Third consecutive loss for Royal Challengers Bangalore as Gujarat Titans defeated them by six wickets and three balls remaining.
David Miller : Right knock won the match for TitansRoyal Challengers Banglore is facing a challenging time despite having a good start in the tournament, whereas Gujarat Titans have managed to finish close games in their favour. David Miller and Rahul Tewatia ensured the safe win this time for the team.
Virat Kohli is getting back to form.
Skipper Faf du Plessis chose to bat first on winning the toss. Virat Kohli opened the innings alongside Faf du Plessis. Wriddhiman Saha caught the skipper behind the stumps in the second over off Pradeep Sangwan for a duck. Virat Kohli continued the play with Rajat Patidar. The duo stitched a partnership of 99 runs off 74 balls as both the players played with a strike rate of 100-plus. Pradeep Sangwan got the second breakthrough by breaking the crucial partnership and dismissing Rajat Patidar for 32-ball 52. And soon, Virat Kohli departed for 58 on being bowled by Mohammed Shami. After that, the team struggled to build and expand their score. Glenn Maxwell and Mahipal Lomror added 33 and 16 runs respectively to take the total to 170 at the loss of 6 wickets. Dinesh Karthik struggled to find form from the past three matches and couldn't contribute much.
Dominant victory for Gujarat Titans
Wriddhiman Saha opened the innings, and Shubman Gill anchored the innings for Gujarat Titans. The duo built 51 runs in partnership from 45 balls before Wanindu Hasaranga took the former, and in the next over, Shahbaz Ahmed took Shubman Gill in an LBW. Sai Sudarshan got poorly dismissed by Wanindu Hasaranga. David Miller and Rahul Tewatia gave the finishing touch to the inning. They remained not out to sail their team across the winning line. David Miller smashed 39 off 24, and Rahul Tewatia made 43 off 25. They chased down the total quickly with six wickets and three balls remaining in the end.
Faf du Plessis commented on losing, saying, "We tried to get 175-180. They bowled well in the middle and kept us down. We started well with the ball, but they played under pressure really well as they are in the tournament. Patidar played really well and with confidence. After two bad performances with the bat, coming back was good. But the bowlers being taken down by good batting took it their way. There was a big side on one side, and there was one over (4th last) where most balls went to the legside. (On Virat) It was a huge step in the right direction to get a solid 50. You want one of your top 4 to get the 70s in the future, so it's good."
Gujarat Titans have been clinical in every match and defeated the opposite team with complete dominance. Gujarat Titans will clash on 3rd May with Punjab Kings, and Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Chennai Super Kings on 4th May.