Image: Gujarat Titans dominate Rajasthan Royals with all-round show in IPL 2025 clash / © India Today
Being a one-sided match on the surface, the 23rd clash of the Indian Premier League 2025 between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, ended in a commanding 58-run win for the home side, as they dominated both with the bat and ball to consolidate their position at the top of the table.
Opting to bat first after being put in by Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans set the tone with a strong batting display, led by Sai Sudharsan, who was the standout performer with a match-winning 82 off 53 balls. Despite losing Shubman Gill early for just 2 runs, Sudharsan held firm and rebuilt the innings, first alongside Jos Buttler and later with M Shahrukh Khan. Sudharsan played with flair and control, hitting 8 fours and 3 sixes at a strike rate of 154.71, anchoring the innings and keeping the scoreboard ticking.
The Titans’ approach was aggressive yet calculated. Jos Buttler, surprisingly batting at No.3, chipped in with a quick 36 off 25 balls before falling lbw to Theekshana. Shahrukh Khan then provided the fireworks in the middle overs, smashing 36 from just 20 balls, which included 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. His strike rate of 180 kept the Royals on the back foot.
In the death overs, Gujarat accelerated through the big-hitting duo of Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan. Tewatia’s 24* off 12 and Rashid’s 12 off 4 ensured that the Titans posted a daunting total of 217/6 in their 20 overs. The innings featured a combined 19 fours and 10 sixes, alongside 17 extras conceded by RR, including 7 wides from Tushar Deshpande, who had a tough day, finishing with 2 for 53 in his 4 overs.
Maheesh Theekshana picked up 2 wickets but also leaked 54 runs, while Sandeep Sharma (1/41) and Jofra Archer (1/30) tried to pull things back with their experience. Farooqi, who was brought in for Hasaranga, went wicketless and conceded 38 runs.
In response, Rajasthan Royals were rocked early. Yashasvi Jaiswal fell in the second over to Arshad Khan for just 6, and Nitish Rana followed shortly after, edging Siraj to slip for 1. Sanju Samson kept RR in the hunt with a fluent 41 from 28 balls, hitting 4 fours and 2 sixes. He looked confident in his stroke play but lacked support from the other end. Riyan Parag provided a brief spark, hammering 26 from 14 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes. However, his dismissal in the 7th over became the hot topic of the Game.
Facing a delivery just outside off from Kulwant Khejroliya, Parag tried to steer it towards third man but only managed a faint tickle. Jos Buttler, donning the gloves this time, took the catch as the bowler and keeper appealed in unison. Parag reviewed instantly, believing the noise came from the bat brushing the turf. However, UltraEdge confirmed a spike off the bat, and he had to walk back, leaving RR at 60/3.
From that point, the chase unraveled. Dhruv Jurel (5), Shubham Dubey (1), and Jofra Archer (4) all departed cheaply. Only Shimron Hetmyer showed some fight, striking a brilliant 52 off 32 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. His knock brought brief hope, especially as he reached his fifty in just 29 balls. But Prasidh Krishna, who was clinical throughout, removed Hetmyer and later Archer to finish with 3/24 from his 4 overs.
Rashid Khan also played a crucial role in breaking the middle-order resistance, bagging 2 wickets, including the vital scalp of Jurel. Sai Kishore wrapped up the tail with 2 wickets of his own, including the final dismissal of Theekshana to seal the game. Rajasthan Royals were bowled out for 159 in 19.2 overs, falling short by 58 runs. They never really recovered from the early setbacks and lacked the depth or momentum to chase down 218. Extras again told a story that GT conceded just 9 wides and were disciplined in their approach.
This win marked Gujarat Titans’ fourth consecutive victory in IPL 2025, taking them to the top of the table with 8 points and an impressive net run rate of +1.413. On the other hand, the loss pushed Rajasthan Royals down to seventh with just 4 points from 5 matches and a concerning NRR of -0.733. From a tactical standpoint, Gujarat got their substitutions right, bringing in Kulwant Khejroliya as an Impact Player for Sherfane Rutherford. He picked up the key wicket of Parag and bowled with intent.
Rajasthan too made a substitution as Shubham Dubey came in for Farooqi, but it didn’t produce the desired effect. In terms of individual performances, Sai Sudharsan was undoubtedly the star of the match, and his 82 set the base for a massive total. Prasidh Krishna’s 3/24 ensured RR were never in the hunt, while Rashid and Tewatia delivered a powerful punch at the death with both bat and ball. With this win, GT have firmly established themselves as early contenders for the playoff spots, while RR face a must-win situation in their upcoming fixtures if they hope to keep their campaign alive.
The Rajasthan Royals innings was going well, but in the 7th over, a big moment occurred and went on to be the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game as Riyan Parag, the in-form batter, was dismissed in a controversial and closely fought decision. It was the fourth ball of the 6th over, bowled by a fast bowler who delivered a near-yorker angling across Parag. The ball pitched just outside off stump and shaped away ever so slightly. Parag tried to open the face of the bat to guide it down towards the deep third region, a shot he has often played with success. However, as the ball passed the bat, there was a noise enough for Jos Buttler behind the stumps and the bowler to go up in appeal.
The on-field umpire wasn’t convinced initially, but Parag, confident that he hadn’t edged it, immediately reviewed the decision after being given out. The replays revealed a small spike on UltraEdge as the ball passed the bat, suggesting a faint edge. Parag, though, looked disappointed and perhaps felt the spike came from his bat brushing the ground. Despite the doubt in his mind, the third umpire upheld the on-field decision, and Parag had to walk back, leaving Rajasthan Royals at 60 for 3.
For the match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, despite losing the match, our TCNI’s Hero of the Game went to Shimron Hetmyer, the man who stood between Gujarat Titans and victory. Hetmyer walked in with RR in deep trouble at 69/4, chasing a steep target. What followed was a display of pure intent, composure, and calculated aggression. Initially cautious, Hetmyer shifted gears seamlessly, punishing anything loose. He took on Rashid Khan, hitting him for two massive sixes and a cheeky four, even surviving a close DRS call.
As wickets kept tumbling around him, including Sanju Samson and Jofra Archer, Hetmyer kept RR’s hopes alive with a 29-ball half-century laced with 4 fours and 3 sixes. He was smart in picking his bowlers, targeting the spinners while respecting the pacers when needed. The turning point came when he attempted another pull off a Prasidh Krishna bouncer but mistimed it, only for Sai Kishore to pouch it comfortably at deep backward square. That dismissal for 52 (32 balls, SR 162.5) virtually ended RR’s challenge, as the required rate had ballooned. Hetmyer’s innings may not have secured the win, but it showcased his fighting spirit and flair under pressure.