IPL 2025: GT bounce back in style as SRH out of playoffs race after defeat
New Delhi: Gujarat Titans stormed back to form with a commanding 38-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad, as Prasidh Krishna’s stellar bowling display backed up explosive half-centuries from Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler in their IPL 2025 clash on Friday.
The convincing win significantly boosted GT’s playoff chances, while the defeat left SRH virtually out of the running for the top four.
An all-round effort from Gill, Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan powered Gujarat to an imposing 224 for six. Though SRH began their chase positively, they faltered midway and could only manage 186 for six. Abhishek Sharma was the standout performer for Hyderabad, scoring a brisk 74 from 41 balls.
Gill lit up the first innings with a fiery 76 off just 38 balls, well-supported by Sudharsan, who blasted 48 off 23 deliveries. Together, they stitched an opening partnership of 87 in just 6.5 overs. Buttler then took over, smashing 64 off 37 to push GT past the 200-run mark.
With the ball, Prasidh Krishna once again impressed, returning excellent figures of 2 for 19 from his four overs. The only worry for Gujarat was Ishant Sharma, who had to leave the field after being unable to complete his final over due to discomfort.
Sunrisers Hyderabad came out with intent, taking 42 runs from the first four overs as Siraj gave away 22 and Ishant leaked 20 in his first couple. But Rashid Khan changed the momentum with a sensational catch in the deep, sprinting from square leg and adjusting mid-run to remove Travis Head.
Ishan Kishan struggled at the crease, using up 17 deliveries for his 13 before falling, as the required run rate crept above 14. Even with Abhishek and Klaasen at the crease, the chase looked beyond SRH as the target run rate surged past 16.
A moment of drama unfolded when GT skipper Gill was visibly frustrated during a discussion with the umpires over a review involving Abhishek. The SRH batter was seen calming the Titans captain during the exchange.
Earlier, sent in to bat, Gill opened Gujarat’s innings with intent, flicking a wayward delivery from Shami for a six. Shami had an off day, with Sudharsan taking him apart for five boundaries in one over, including four consecutively.
SRH captain Pat Cummins tried to control the flow by bringing himself into the attack, but the onslaught continued as Gill drove and pulled the Australian for a flurry of boundaries, including a six over deep mid-wicket, taking 17 off the over.
Gill and Sudharsan built their innings with style and smart shot selection, steering clear of reckless hits while still maintaining a high run rate. Gujarat reached 82 at the end of the powerplay.
Leg-spinner Zeeshan Ali finally broke the stand by getting Sudharsan caught behind by Klaasen off a deceptive googly.
Gill, now joined by Buttler, kept the pace going, reaching his fifty with a sublime drive through extra cover, taking just 25 balls. Buttler, in rhythm himself, sent Ansari over the sightscreen and soon after, crossed the 4000-run milestone in IPL, becoming the third-fastest to do so in terms of balls faced.
A lapse in the field saw Cummins spill a catch off Harshal Patel, giving Gill a life on 66. However, Gill’s innings ended soon after when a sharp throw from Harshal at short fine-leg was deflected onto the stumps by Klaasen, catching the GT captain short of the crease.
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