Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill Power Gujarat Titans to Playoffs with Dominant 10-Wicket Win over Delhi Capitals
Gujarat Titans stayed on top of the IPL 2025 table with a dominant 10-wicket win over Delhi Capitals and chasing 200. Sai Sudharsan smashed a brilliant century while Shubman Gill added 93 runs. Their unbeaten partnership helped Gujarat easily reach the target and secure a spot in the Playoffs with a strong all-round performance.
At the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi, the fans saw an encounter between the Delhi Capitals (DC) and Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 60th match of the season. The match was pivotal for both teams, with DC fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive and GT aiming to secure a top spot.
KL Rahul’s Century Takes Gujarat to 199 Runs
DC’s innings was anchored by KL Rahul’s unbeaten 112 off 65 balls, a knock that combined elegance and aggression. Opening with du Plessis, Rahul set a steady foundation despite a slow start from his partner. Du Plessis struggled, scoring 5 off 10 balls before being dismissed by Arshad Khan, caught at mid-on. Abhishek Porel joined Rahul, and the duo accelerated, with Porel contributing 30 off 19 balls, including a six and a four, before falling to R Sai Kishore, caught by Jos Buttler.
Rahul’s innings was a blend of caution and calculated risks.
He reached his fifty off 38 balls, surviving close calls, including a reviewed lbw appeal off Rashid Khan. His partnerships with Porel (62 runs) and Axar Patel (42 runs) kept DC ticking. Axar scored 25 off 16 balls, hitting two fours and a six, before being caught at deep third off Prasidh Krishna. Tristan Stubbs provided the late flourish, scoring 21 off 10 balls with two sixes, one a remarkable jumping pull off Mohammed Siraj in the final over.
DC’s powerplay yielded 45 for 1, with Rahul’s boundaries setting the tone. The middle overs saw Rahul and Porel target spinners like Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore, while the death overs (16-20) produced 62 runs. Rahul’s century, completed off 60 balls, included 14 fours and 4 sixes, making him the first batter to score hundreds for three different IPL teams. DC finished at 199 for 3, with Siraj conceding 37 runs in 4 overs and Sai Kishore leaking 47 runs, though he took Porel’s wicket. GT’s bowlers had mixed fortunes. Arshad Khan’s 7 runs and 1 wicket in 2 overs were economical, while Prasidh Krishna took 1 for 40, dismissing Axar. Rashid Khan bowled tightly for 32 runs in 4 overs.
Gujarat Titans’ Classic Chase
GT’s chase was a display of dominance, led by openers Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, who remained unbeaten and chased down 200 with six balls to spare. The pair started aggressively, scoring 59 for 0 in the powerplay, with Sudharsan’s 25 off 9 balls in the second over off T Natarajan setting the tone. Natarajan struggled, finishing with 49 runs in 3 overs, as Sudharsan hit four fours and a six in that over alone.
Sudharsan reached his fifty off 32 balls, sweeping Axar Patel for a boundary, while Gill’s fifty came off 33 balls, marked by a fierce drive off Dushmantha Chameera. Their partnership was characterized by pristine strokeplay and impeccable running, ensuring a steady flow of boundaries and twos. GT’s scoring rate rarely dipped below 9 runs per over, with key moments like Gill’s six off Axar in the eighth over and Sudharsan’s no-look whip off Natarajan in the 11th.
DC’s bowlers struggled to create chances. Axar Patel was expensive, conceding 35 runs in 3 overs, while Kuldeep Yadav’s 37 runs in 4 overs included a six by Sudharsan to reach his century off 56 balls. Mustafizur Rahman bowled tidily for 24 runs in 3 overs, but Chameera and debutant Vipraj Nigam couldn’t stem the flow, leaking 22 and 37 runs respectively. A reviewed caught-behind appeal against Sudharsan off Nigam and an lbw shout off Kuldeep were DC’s closest attempts at a breakthrough, both overturned.
GT’s chase was relentless, with 11-run overs becoming routine. The 13th over off Chameera yielded 19 runs, including Gill’s swept six, while the 16th over off Natarajan added 18 runs, with Gill’s Kohli-esque flick for six standing out. Sudharsan sealed his century with a straight six off Kuldeep in the 17th over, and the match ended in the 19th over when Sudharsan pulled Nigam for a six over long-on, finishing the chase in style.
Sai Sudharsan’s 108 not out off 61 balls, with 12 fours and 4 sixes, earned him the Player of the Match award and the Orange Cap, having scored 552 runs in IPL 2025 at a strike rate of 155.93. Gill’s 93 not out off 53 balls, including 3 fours and 7 sixes, took his season tally to 551 runs at a strike rate of 152.63. Their 205-run unbroken stand was the highest for any wicket in IPL 2025 and the third-highest in IPL history. For DC, Rahul’s 112 not out off 65 balls was a lone bright spot, his 14 fours and 4 sixes showcasing his class.
DC’s bowling unit, missing Starc, lacked consistency, with Natarajan’s 49 runs in 3 overs highlighting their struggles against GT’s openers. The match’s turning point was GT’s powerplay, where they scored 59 for 0, reducing the required run rate significantly. DC’s inability to take wickets, coupled with GT’s risk-free approach, ensured the chase remained on track. The 12th and 13th overs, yielding 19 and 9 runs respectively, tilted the game firmly in GT’s favour, leaving DC with no answers.
What’s Happening in the Points Table?
GT’s victory secured their playoff berth, joining RCB and PBKS, with 18 points from 12 matches and a net run rate of 0.795. DC, with 13 points from 12 matches, remained in contention for the final playoff spot. The loss set up a virtual quarter-final scenario for DC against MI, while GT solidified their position at the top of the table.
Besides this, the two other teams, the Punjab Kings and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, have qualified for the IPL 2025 playoffs, and hence, with 3 teams already set, it will be a big fight for the fourth spot in the playoffs.
TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game
Giving the TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game in the second over, the Gujarat Titans changed the flow of their innings completely. After a decent first over where they scored 11 runs off Axar Patel, things took a big turn in the very next over, bowled by Natarajan. Axar Patel had kept things steady early on, but one mistake gave the Titans the chance to take charge. Natarajan came in to bowl, and the Titans’ batsmen, especially Sai Sudharsan, attacked him from the first ball. Sai hit a huge six straight away, sending the ball flying over fine leg. That big hit set the tone for the rest of the over.
Sai kept the pressure on with two quick boundaries, placing the ball nicely to the deep backward point and extra cover areas. Even when Natarajan bowled good-length balls, Sai’s confident shots made it hard for him to settle. Sai also ran two quick runs to keep the scoreboard moving. The over ended with Sai hitting one more boundary, making it a total of 20 runs scored in just six balls. This pushed the Gujarat Titans’ score to 31 without losing any wickets after two overs. This second over was very important because it gave the Titans a big boost in runs and confidence.
TCNI’s Hero of the Day
Many fans won’t consider or talk about the innings of KL Rahul. But by winning the TCNI’s Hero of the Day, he has shown why his performance was crucial for the Delhi Capitals. Rahul started cautiously during the powerplay as the pitch was tough and the bowling from the Gujarat Titans was disciplined. He took his time to settle in, carefully picking the right balls to play and keeping wickets safe. As the innings progressed and the pitch became easier to bat on, Rahul shifted gears. He began attacking the bowlers with great confidence and timing, blasting the Gujarat Titans’ bowlers all over the park.
His shots were powerful and well-placed, allowing him to score boundaries regularly. The innings was a perfect mix of patience and aggression, which helped him build a strong foundation for the team. Rahul’s knock was a spectacular century, scoring off just 65 balls with 14 fours and 4 sixes. His strike rate of over 172 showed how dominant he was once he found his rhythm. His ability to adapt to the pitch conditions and change his approach as the game progressed was key to Delhi Capitals posting a competitive total of 199 for 3 in 20 overs.
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