RR vs GT: Titans' skipper Hardik Pandya's assault completely deflates Rajasthan Royals' bowling at fortress

The defending champions Gujarat Titans continued their sizzling hot form in match 48 of the ongoing IPL 2023 against Rajasthan Royals at the fortress. After having won the toss and opted to bat first, the hosts RR began well considering the fact that they were 50/2 at one stage inside six overs of the game. The Royals' opener and the man in form, Yashasvi Jaiswal was looking good until he suffered a setback in the form of a miscommunication eventually running himself out in the process.

Thereafter, Rashid Khan took over the spin department and totally rattled the RR batting lineup with his magnanimous bowling spell by picking up three wickets while his compatriot and Afghani spinner, Noor Ahmad, chipped in with two wickets as RR got bundled out in the eighteenth over.

In reply, Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha got off to a fiery start and hammered the RR bowlers all over the park. The opening pair scored 71 runs in just 9.4 overs to set a solid platform for the upcoming batters. Consequently, in came the GT skipper, Hardik Pandya, and took matters into his hands. He went all guns blazing improving on his lost mojo which admitted in the last match. Pandya's blitzkrieg meant an early finish to the game in a rather one-sided affair.

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Notably, Pandya smacked an unbeaten 39 runs off just 15 balls. During his electrifying innings, he showed no mercy to the Aussie leg spinner, Adam Zampa and belted three sixes in the 11th over when he was just facing his third ball of the innings. Dealing in boundaries, Pandya seemed to be in a hurry to finish the match and punished Zampa by scoring 23 runs in his costly over.

Gujarat Titans remain the table toppers and almost knocking on the door of the playoffs

The dominating win of the Gujarat Titans meant that the defending champions are still sitting comfortably in the IPL points table. On the contrary, Rajasthan Royals have lost four matches out of the five games they have played and still remain stagnant with ten points and reeling in the middle of the points tally.

With this, team GT will look to extend their lead further to qualify for the next stage of the IPL 2023 with ease. GT will now play Lucknow Super Giants next on May 7, in their home ground in Ahmedabad. While Rajasthan Royals will hope for a better showing and an essential win against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, when they play their another home game at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Sunday, May 7.