Rajasthan Royals needed 11 runs from the last over at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad when Riyan Parag decided to gamble with his bowling options. Even with overs still available from Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma and two from Ravindra Jadeja, Parag entrusted the most pressured phase to Tushar Deshpande—and it turned out to be the defining call as the Royals edged Gujarat Titans by six runs for their second straight victory.
Quick facts
- Match: Rajasthan Royals vs Gujarat Titans
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Result: Rajasthan Royals won by 6 runs
- Chase situation: 11 required off the final over
- Key bowling decision: Parag gave the 20th over to Tushar Deshpande
- Penultimate over: Jofra Archer bowled the 19th over
- Archer’s spell: conceded just 4 runs in the 19th over
- Next fixture for Rajasthan: vs Mumbai Indians, Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati on Tuesday
Irfan Pathan pointed out that the sort of bold thinking required at the death can quickly translate into leadership confidence for a captain. In his view, Parag’s willingness to make difficult calls under pressure—particularly when the margins are thin—helps the group trust the decision-making process.
Pathan highlighted that Parag’s plan started with the 19th over, where Jofra Archer was handed the ball before Parag went to Deshpande for the final over. That sequence, Pathan said, matters because teams often prefer an experienced bowler to control the penultimate stage, setting up the finishing act for the last over.
Archer responded in the best possible way, delivering a sharp over that yielded only four runs and tightened the chase. With Gujarat needing to accelerate after that, the pressure only increased as the innings moved into the final over.
Then came Deshpande’s moment. He defended 10 runs in the last over to ensure Rajasthan held on by six runs, turning a high-pressure situation into a narrow, match-winning finish. Pathan stressed that the over was built around experience, pace, and execution—no unnecessary freebies, and little room for Gujarat’s batters to free their arms.
According to Pathan’s assessment, the over also changed the complexion of the contest because, had Gujarat managed 10 runs off Deshpande, the outcome would likely have swung decisively in their favour. Instead, Deshpande kept things precise with accurate yorkers delivered one after another, giving Rajasthan the control they needed to close out.
Rajasthan Royals will now shift focus to their next assignment against five-time champions Mumbai Indians. The match is scheduled for Tuesday at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
