Rashid Khan produced a devastating spell of leg-spin as Gujarat Titans dominated Rajasthan Royals by 77 runs in Jaipur on Saturday, with skipper Shubman Gill backing it up by scoring a brilliant 84. The result moved GT closer to qualification for the IPL 2026 playoffs while also denting RR’s momentum after a tough run of defeats.
Key takeaways
- Gujarat Titans won by 77 runs, powered by Rashid Khan’s four-wicket haul.
- Shubman Gill struck 84, helping GT post 229 for 4 after RR chose to bowl.
- GT climbed from fifth to second in the points table, level on points with Sunrisers Hyderabad but behind on net-run-rate.
- Rajasthan Royals suffered their fourth loss in six matches, including a third straight defeat at home.
- RR’s net-run-rate dropped to +0.082 after the defeat.
GT’s big total and the early turning point
Gujarat Titans got their innings rolling with a major foundation partnership as Gill and Sai Sudharsan combined for 118 runs as the opening stand. After RR opted to field first on a batter-friendly surface, GT accelerated efficiently and finished with their season-best total of 229 for 4.
Rajasthan’s chase began with immediate intent from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck 36 off only 16 balls. His innings featured three fours and three sixes, giving RR a lively start. Dhruv Jurel then kept the tempo up, adding 24 off 10 deliveries, including 1 four and 3 sixes.
At 62 for 2 after five overs, Rajasthan looked positioned to chase. However, Gujarat’s bowlers tightened the game sharply, and RR were ultimately bowled out for 152 in 16.3 overs.
Rashid’s control and the collapse
Gujarat’s bowling set the framework early, with Kagiso Rabada striking for 2/33 in his three overs and Mohammed Siraj delivering 1/55. But it was Rashid Khan who took full charge in the middle overs, finishing with match-winning figures of 4/33 as the Royals’ chase unraveled.
Between the eighth and 14th overs, Rashid made the most of the slight turn available. He struck key blows that disrupted Rajasthan’s rhythm and broke the backbone of their pursuit. First, he dismissed Dhruv Jurel, then removed Donovan Ferreira in the space of three balls—Jurel was beaten by a teasing length delivery, while Ferreira was trapped by a sharp leg-break that came in and turned away.
Rashid later trapped Ravindra Jadeja lbw, completing a haul that included three batters being bowled. As wickets kept falling at regular intervals, Rajasthan handed Gujarat the biggest kind of win.
Jason Holder added the finishing touches by cleaning up the lower order with figures of 3/12 from his 2.3 overs, wrapping up the tail after Rashid’s spell had already done the damage.
Sooryavanshi’s cameo, then RR’s chase lost its shape
Sooryavanshi’s innings began by taking advantage of the first ball of the match, smashing it for six. He followed it with pressure on the bowler, including back-to-back sixes against Rabada, as RR raced to 26 without loss in the opening two overs.
Siraj also came under attack during this burst, conceding three boundaries in four balls to the fearless youngster. However, the India pacer eventually turned the contest with a well-directed short delivery that forced a mistimed pull, ending Sooryavanshi’s cameo.
In the next over, Rabada struck again, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal. Jaiswal had been leading RR on Saturday after regular captain Riyan Parag had pulled his hamstring in the previous match. Parag’s injury had changed the batting order, and Jaiswal’s dismissal arrived when Rabada bowled a 152 kph bouncer that was mistimed to extra cover.
Jurel briefly revived Rajasthan’s hopes by hitting Siraj for three sixes and a four in a 22-run over, but the momentum did not last once Rashid entered the attack and tightened the game.
Gill’s class, plus the finishing role from Washington and Tewatia
After putting runs on the board, Gujarat Titans leaned heavily on Gill’s 44-ball knock of 84. The innings featured nine fours and three sixes, with Gill showing a strong mix of timing and aggression. He did briefly struggle with discomfort in his left foot but still reached his fourth IPL fifty of the season.
Brijesh Sharma picked up wickets late in the innings, dismissing Gill and Jason Holder, but Washington Sundar played the finisher’s part. Sundar remained unbeaten on 37 off 20 balls, striking 2 fours and 3 sixes, while Rahul Tewatia contributed 14 not out off four balls. Tewatia hit two sixes in the final over, helping GT reach their season’s highest score.
How the innings was built and why RR struggled to keep up
Gujarat’s batting rise included early turbulence in the bowling phase as well. Jofra Archer endured a difficult start, leaking 18 runs in the opening over that included five extras, with Sudharsan benefiting from the irregularities. Archer then went on to concede 46 runs across his three overs.
Sudharsan repeatedly punched through the off-side field as Gill settled in and then shifted gears with a variety of authoritative shots. Gujarat raced to 108 without losing a wicket by the end of nine overs, before Rajasthan slowed the tempo with spin during the middle stages.
Yash Raj Punia finally provided the breakthrough in the 11th over by dismissing Sudharsan, ending the dominant 118-run opening partnership.
Playoff picture and the points-table impact
The win was Gujarat Titans’ fourth consecutive success, moving them to the second position with 14 points—matching the total of table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad. GT’s net-run-rate stood at +0.228 while SRH’s was +0.737, leaving Gujarat just behind on that tiebreaker. For Rajasthan, the defeat dropped them to fifth in the points table and pushed their net-run-rate down to +0.082 after a fourth loss in six games.
