Twitter Reactions: All-round Gujarat Titans rout Rajasthan Royals to solidify top spot in IPL 2023

Gujarat Titans rediscovered their winning touch in IPL 2023 after humbling Rajasthan Royals in a one-sided contest at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. It was the second successive loss for the home side, who were all at sea against the Gujarat Titans bowlers in the first innings, managing a paltry total of 118 runs.

Chasing a modest total, Gujarat Titans made a sedated start as Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha took their sweet time against the Rajasthan pacers. Saha, who came into the game on the back of a series of low scores, pressed his foot on the accelerator to ensure a wicketless powerplay for the visitors, their first of this year’s edition.

However, the home side had a glimmer of hope when Yuzvendra Chahal knocked over Gill in the tenth over. But their hopes were shortlived as GT skipper Hardik Pandya came out all guns blazing, smashing Adam Zampa for three maximums and one boundary on consecutive deliveries. The defending champions completed a resounding victory after getting over the line in the 14th over with nine wickets to spare. 

Rashid Khan rattles Rajasthan batters in glittering bowling display

Earlier in the match, it was the beloved Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson, who won the toss and decided to bat first on a patchy surface in Jaipur. It was a seemingly good start for the home side before they lost their influential opener Jos Buttler in the very second over of the match, thanks to an inspired field change by Hardik Pandya.

Despite Buttler’s early demise, The Men in Pink were enjoying a strong start, courtesy of skipper Sanju Samson’s brisk cameo. However, catastrophe struck for the hosts when the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal had to make the long walk back to the pavilion following a horrible mix-up with Samson in the final over of the field restrictions.

It went from bad to worse for the home side when Samson’s promising innings was cut short by an innocuous delivery by Josua Little. The Rajasthan innings went into a tailspin from thereon as Rashid Khan ran riot with the ball in the middle overs. The inspirational Afghan spinner opened the floodgates by knocking over Ravi Ashwin with an absolute peach of a delivery.

He returned with match-defining figures of 3/14 in his four overs, receiving valiant support from compatriot Noor Ahmad from the other end.