Gujarat Titans came from behind to shock Rajasthan Royals in a last-ball thriller in Jaipur in Match No. 24 of the 2024 edition of the IPL on Wednesday, April 10. At the 15-over mark with 73 runs needed off the last 30 balls, the Royals looked poised to seal their fifth match of the competition but the R and R of Titans - Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan - who were responsible for a few teams tasting the bitter pill of defeat in the last couple of years, kept believing and kept hitting and eventually took their team to a win, after two consecutive losses.
The Titans were down and out at 124/4 needing 73 runs in the last five overs despite having skipper Shubman Gill in the middle having crossed fifty and going great. Gill began the 16th over bowled by Yuzvendra Chahal with a couple of boundaries but the leggie with his guile deceived the GT skipper, who had danced down the track. Even though it was called wide, RR had gotten the big fish. However, the real destruction was waiting for the Royals in form of Rashid Khan and Tewatia, who was waiting for the right ball to go after.
Shahrukh Khan on his GT debut played his part with a six and a four of R Ashwin to take the chase forward. However, a quiet over by Avesh in the 18th including Shahrukh's wicket threatened to derail GT's plans. Rashid and Tewatia, on the other hand, were not going to settle down. A slow-over rate penalty meant that RR could only have four fielders outside the circle and Tewatia hit a couple of fours on the off-side, one of Kuldeep and a couple of runs in the last over off Avesh.
A no-ball and three fours in the 19th over meant Kuldeep Sen went for 20 runs and GT needed 15 runs to win. Royals did get Tewatia run out but boundaries from Rashid ensured GT crossed the line.
Earlier, it was the duo of Sanju Samson in his 50th match as Rajasthan Royals captain and Riyan Parag continuing his exceptional form in the 2024 edition of the IPL, who took their side to a score of 196 runs. The Royals had lost both their openers inside the powerplay but Parag and Samson after a mini-rescue act latched onto anything loose from the GT bowlers and ensured that the home side had a defendable score on the board.
With the three spinners in their ranks including Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin and debutant Keshav Maharaj, the Royals were expected to defend the total and were right on course of the win but Rashid and Tewatia came out of syllabus, as they have been for quite a few teams in the last couple of seasons in the IPL.
The Royals are still very well placed at the top of the table while the Titans will enjoy a good week's break as three wins and three losses in six games looks definitely better than two and four, which Shubman Gill and Co. have been able to achieve. The Royals will next be in action against the Punjab Kings on Saturday, April 13.
