In a recent clash at Jaipur, Gujarat Titans (GT) faced a challenging defeat against Rajasthan Royals (RR) as they failed to defend a substantial 209 target. The chase commenced with a pivotal moment early on, as a dropped catch by Jos Buttler in the second over proved costly. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was initially reprieved, capitalised on this opportunity alongside his young partner, Vaibhav Suryavanshi.
Reflecting on the match, GT’s B Sai Sudharsan remarked, “We could have and we should have taken that catch, that would have made a big difference.” Despite this setback, he acknowledged that it was still early, adding, “we can’t be so harsh.”
Jaiswal, with a solid 31 from 16 balls, laid a strong foundation during the powerplay. However, it was Suryavanshi who stole the spotlight with his astonishing 52 off just 20 balls, leading RR to a commanding 87 without loss after six overs. Suryavanshi eventually secured a blistering 38-ball century, while Jaiswal supported brilliantly with an unbeaten 70 from 40 deliveries. The duo amassed an impressive 166-run partnership.
Upon reflection, Sudharsan, who himself scored 39 in 30 balls during GT’s innings, noted, “When we finished [batting], we felt it was par or ten runs over par, is what our feeling was. But the way they started and batted showed us that we were wrong.” Additionally, he highlighted GT’s need for improved response and planning in the field, “Maybe the lengths, and we could have been aware of the wicket, how it reacted to the ball, which they bowled in the first innings.”
Interestingly, the use of R Sai Kishore by GT in recent matches has raised questions. Despite being a consistent performer with 12 wickets in the tournament, he has been underutilised, especially given the presence of left-handers in the opposition. On ESPNcricinfo’s Time Out show, Varun Aaron criticised the late deployment of Sai Kishore, stating, “Yeah, there were two lefties batting, but Sai Kishore can bowl really well to lefties as well.”
Ian Bishop echoed these sentiments by questioning, “They have been doing this to Sai Kishore the last three or four games. That’s what worries me.” This strategy of holding back their effective spinner led to scrutiny over GT’s tactical choices.
As the tournament progresses, GT will likely reassess their strategies to address these challenges, while also acknowledging the stellar performances from the young RR duo that demanded a rethink of their perceived “par” target.
