Ahmedabad (IANS): Pacer Tushar Deshpande delivered a clinical final over to help Rajasthan Royals (RR) clinch a thrilling six-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday.
After electing to bat, Rajasthan posted a formidable 210/6, powered by half-centuries from Dhruv Jurel and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Despite a brilliant lead from Sai Sudharsan and a late-inning surge from Rashid Khan, Gujarat fell agonisingly short in the season’s first true nail-biter.
Jaiswal and Jurel Power RR to 210
Rajasthan’s openers, Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, attacked from the start, racing to 69/0 in the Powerplay. Jaiswal struck 55 off 36 balls before falling to Kagiso Rabada.
While the mid-innings saw a brief stutter, Dhruv Jurel seized control. The wicketkeeper-batter smashed 75 off 42 balls, including five boundaries and five sixes, to push Rajasthan past the 200-mark. Kagiso Rabada remained the pick of the GT bowlers with 2-42.
Bishnoi Turns the Tide
Gujarat, missing captain Shubman Gill due to a muscle spasm, handed a debut to Kumar Kushagra. Alongside Sai Sudharsan, Kushagra provided a steady 56-run opening stand.
Sudharsan looked sublime, reaching 73 off 44 balls, but RR leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi dismantled the middle order. Bishnoi registered his best tournament figures with a 4-wicket haul, removing Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, and Washington Sundar in a single match-defining spell.
The Final Over Drama
Just as RR appeared to have secured the game, Rashid Khan and Kagiso Rabada launched a fearless 43-run counterattack. Their hitting brought the equation down to 11 runs needed off the final 6 balls.
RR skipper Riyan Parag entrusted Tushar Deshpande with the ball. Under immense pressure, Deshpande nailed his yorkers and conceded only four runs. The decisive moment occurred when Jofra Archer caught Rashid Khan in the deep, effectively ending Gujarat’s hopes.
Statistical Highlights
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Ravi Bishnoi: Finished with match-winning figures of 4-41.
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Dhruv Jurel: Scored 75 runs at a strike rate of 178.57.
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Tushar Deshpande: Defended 11 runs in the final over, conceding only 4 runs.
Brief Scores:
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Rajasthan Royals: 210/6 in 20 overs (Dhruv Jurel 75, Yashasvi Jaiswal 55; Kagiso Rabada 2-42).
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Gujarat Titans: 204/8 in 20 overs (Sai Sudharsan 73, Jos Buttler 26; Ravi Bishnoi 4-41, Tushar Deshpande 1-24).
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Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 runs.
