Gujarat Titans batter Jos Buttler lauded captain Shubman Gill for the attacking mindset that laid the groundwork in the Power-play as his side overhauled Royal Challengers Bengaluru and beat the defending champions by four wickets in Match 42 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday. Chasing 156, Gujarat reached the target in 15.5 overs, powered by Gill’s rapid 43 off 18 balls and a brisk cameo from Buttler, who struck 39 off 19 deliveries to keep the chase moving GT’s way.
Buttler’s view: intent, fielding and early movement
Buttler said the batting conditions helped, but insisted the bowling unit deserved significant credit for giving the chase its momentum. He also pointed to fielding as a key differentiator, adding that taking their catches made a major impact on the outcome.
While the pitch played well for batters, Buttler noted that the new ball offered a little extra for the fast bowlers at the start. He highlighted that there was movement early and praised the quality on display from both teams, referencing Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada in particular.
He further explained that Gujarat’s plan was to unsettle the rhythm of Bengaluru’s pace attack. In his assessment, Gill executed that strategy perfectly during the Power-play, attacking lengths and forcing the bowlers to adjust, which Buttler felt broke the chase open from early on.
On a personal level, Buttler admitted his dismissal came at a crucial stage when he took a calculated risk. He said he tried to exploit a gap around mid-wicket, but ended up getting clean bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
How the match unfolded
- Gujarat Titans restricted Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 155 across 19.2 overs.
- Arshad Khan led the bowling effort with three wickets.
- Rashid Khan and Jason Holder each took two wickets.
- For Bengaluru, Devdutt Padikkal made 40 and Virat Kohli contributed 28 as their key scores.
- In the chase, Gujarat’s Power-play tempo was driven by Shubman Gill’s aggressive approach.
- Gill struck 43 off 18 balls, setting up the chase with early acceleration.
- Jos Buttler added quick runs, scoring 39 off 19 deliveries to maintain the advantage.
- Gujarat Titans completed the chase with 4 wickets in hand in 15.5 overs, reaching the target of 156.
Why the result mattered
Buttler stressed the importance of the win as the tournament moves into a critical phase. He described it as a “massive” set of points, emphasizing that Gujarat need to keep hold of places above the teams around them while also highlighting how significant it is to earn victories at this stage of the competition.
With the triumph, Gujarat Titans strengthened their position in the standings, finishing the day with 10 points from five matches. Their next match will be against Punjab Kings on May 3.
