Match Details
Akshaya: Earlier, Gujarat Titans won the toss and opted to bat first as Hardik Pandya wanted to challenge themselves in setting a total. Wriddhiman Saha batted aggressively in the powerplay and piled on some quick suns. But his partner Shubman Gill (1 off 4) was stunned by a brilliant one-handed catch from Glenn Maxwell off Josh Hazlewood.
Matthew Wade (16 off 13) played some strokes crisply but was trapped in front of stumps from his fellow Aussie Maxwell. Although this decision was a controversial one as Wade thought that there was an inside edge on that.
Saha (31 off 22) added some more runs after the powerplay also but perished due to a miscommunication with his skipper Hardik Pandya who called through for a single but Saha remained ball watching, ending in a disastrous run-out.
At the time Saha was out, the scorecard was reading 62-3. David Miller joined hands with his skipper and both started rebuilding the innings alongside some fabulous ball striking. Miller (34 off 25 including three sixes) was the victim of a great reflex catch from Wanindu Hasaranga.
Rahul Tewatia (2 off 3) wasn't able to bring his heroics tonight. But Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan did the job as they finished this innings with some delightful shots. They crunched 34-runs from the last two overs as they finished on 168/5 in their allotted 20 overs.
Hardik Pandya played an entirely different innings as he found it difficult to time the ball properly. It was his 8th IPL fifty as he remained unbeaten on 62 off 47, including four boundaries and three sixes. Rashid Khan remained not out at 19 off just 6 balls with two sixes and a boundary in it.
Arya- It was a par score from the Gujarat Titans and it was largely possible due to some late blitz from skipper Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan. RCB needed a good start desperately and it was provided today by Virat Kohli who came into the match on the back of a horrendous run in the tournament. He came out all guns blazing and started taking on the Gujarat Titans bowlers head-on. It was a great counter-attacking knock which actually gave Faf du Plessis some time to get going.
Kohli got a life when he was dropped at deep backward square leg by Rashid Khan and from there on it was a very sensible knock from the former skipper. He was batting with some much intent yet without taking too many risks. Du Plessis also started to up the ante and played some brilliant shots. For the first time in the tournament, RCB openers managed to rack up a century partnership. A partnership of 115 runs for the opening wicket made sure that the platform was set for the run-chase.
The RCB skipper was eventually dismissed after making 44 of 38 deliveries and it was magician Rashid Khan who provided the much-needed wicket. Kohli continue the good work and then smashed Rashid Khan for a straight six before perishing in the very next delivery. He came dancing down the track and missed the googly and it was an easy stumping for Matthew Wade behind the stumps.
It wasn’t the easiest of situations for RCB as there could have been a twist in the tale had they lost a few more wickets. However, Glenn Maxwell had other ideas and put GT’s ambition to rest as he slammed a 18 balls unbeaten 40 to take their side over the finishing line. It oozed class and some of his shots were something which only Maxwell can execute.