Gujarat Titans (GT) handed Rajasthan Royals (RR) their first defeat of IPL 2024 on Wednesday as they successfully chased down 197 off the last ball at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur. GT skipper Shubman Gill said he would have liked to finish the match on his own but praised Rashid Khan and Rahul Tewatia for getting the job done for the team. With GT needing 15 off the final over, Tewatia (22 in 11 balls) and Rashid (24 not out in 11 balls) combined to take the 2022 champions over the finish line, with the latter hitting the winning boundary off Avesh Khan.
After the match, veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle congratulated Gill as GT ended RR's unbeaten run but suggested his side left it too late to get the job done.
However, Gill responded by saying that when GT plays, no target is safe.
“Well done, you got two points tonight. I have to admit some of us felt you did it too late, but well done today,” Bhogle told Gill.
The GT skipper responded and said: “Thanks. Don't think like that when we're playing.”
In the post-match presentation, the GT skipper added: “We were targeting 45 in three overs and that's very achievable, and that was the mentality. Mathematically, it's like both batters have to score 9-ball and 22 runs or so and if one of the batters goes berserk, he's more likely to get two to three balls.”
Speaking about his dismissal and Rashid-Tewatia's finishing, Gill said: “I would have liked to finish the match but I am very happy with the way Rashid bhai and Rahul bhai finished the match. Also in the last match we dominated more than 50 percent, but our bad phases were very bad. Winning the game with the last ball is a great feeling. He (Rashid) is such a fantastic player, someone you always want to have in your team.
GT are now sixth in the rankings, with three wins and three losses, giving them six points. RR have suffered their first defeat after four wins and with eight points they are still top of the table.
Rashid took home the 'Player of the Match' award.
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