In the TATA IPL 2024 match at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, Gujarat Titans achieved a thrilling last-ball victory over Rajasthan Royals thanks to the superb batting performance of captain Shubman Gill (72 off 44 balls) and the late contributions of Rashid Khan (24* off 11) and Rahul Tewatia (22 off 11).

In the match, Gill played a crucial role with a score of 72 runs off 44 balls. As the team needed 40 runs in the last 15 balls, Rashid and Tewatia joined forces and successfully achieved a remarkable victory on the final ball. With 15 runs remaining in the last over, Rashid hit three fours, including the winning boundary on the last ball, leading to celebrations in the GT camp. Additionally, Rashid’s bowling performance in the first innings was also commendable, as he only conceded 18 runs and took one wicket.

Previously, RR’s Riyan Parag (76 off 48) and their captain Sanju Samson (68* off 38) both scored fifties, which played a vital role in their team’s total of 196/3.

Parag and Samson came to the aid of RR, rescuing them from a score of 42/2. Together, they formed an impressive partnership of 130 runs in just 178 balls, allowing RR to finish with a total of 196/3.

The Gujarat Titans began their pursuit of 197 runs with a stable beginning, accumulating 44 runs without losing a wicket in the Powerplay. The opening duo of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan showcased impressive shots, with Gill primarily scoring boundaries in the ‘V’ area.

In the seventh over, Sudharsan and his partner achieved a 50-run partnership. Sudharsan then hit two fours off Chahal and was fortunate when Chahal was unable to catch a difficult caught and bowled opportunity two balls later.

After Samson’s introduction, pacer Kuleep Sen entered the attack and immediately made a significant contribution by taking three wickets in just two overs, causing a setback for GT. He first got Sudharsan out LBW on 35(29) and then in his next over, made Wade drag one on before beautifully cleaning up Abhinav Manohar three balls later, bringing GT’s score down to 79/3. The match was interrupted due to rain after the 10th over.

Gill reached his fifty in just 35 balls. In an attempt to increase the pace, Vijay Shankar was bowled out by Chahal. The GT team’s leader then changed his approach, scoring two fours against R Ashwin and two more against Chahal. However, Chahal quickly recovered and outsmarted him with a deceptive wide delivery as he charged towards him, resulting in a stumped wicket by Samson. This was a major success for RR.

In the 24th over, Shahrukh and Rahul Tewatia launched an aggressive attack, scoring two fours and a six and adding 17 runs to the scoreboard. However, Avesh Khan’s exceptional yorker in the following over resulted in Shahrukh being dismissed LBW. Avesh delivered an impressive over, conceding only 7 runs. With the required runs reduced to 35 in 12 overs, Tewatia and Rashid Khan managed to hit three boundaries off Sen, scoring a total of 20 runs in that over.

At the start of the last over, with 15 runs required, Rashid Khan began with a boundary on the first delivery. He then hit a couple of runs, and followed it up with another four, narrowly avoiding the wicket-keeper’s grasp. This brought the required runs down to 5 with 3 balls remaining. The next ball resulted in a single run, but the following ball saw drama as Tewatia failed to hit a lofted shot over the middle-off area and was caught out while attempting a risky third run. This brought the equation down to 2 runs required off the last ball. Rashid Khan sealed the victory in an impressive manner, hitting a four over point and sparking joyous celebrations.

In the beginning, the toss was won by the captain of Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill, who chose to field first.

The visitors had a strong start, as they were able to take the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Jos Buttler during the Powerplay, while also giving up a total of 43 runs.

Jaiswal displayed impressive shots on the off side, scoring five boundaries with some cracking drives. However, in the fifth over, he attempted a scoop shot but ended up edging it to the keeper, Matthew Wade, who made a spectacular leaping catch to dismiss him.

The crease was taken over by Captain Sanju Samson, and he immediately found his rhythm with two exquisite fours. However, Buttler, who had a slow start, was dismissed by Rashid Khan in the final over of the Powerplay. Captain Shubman Gill made the strategic decision to bring in Rashid Khan during the Powerplay, and it proved to be successful as Buttler was caught at slip on the fourth delivery.

t the end of the Powerplay, RR only managed to reach a score of 43/2, unable to maintain any significant momentum.

The team playing on their home ground maintained a strong defense and prevented RR from scoring easily. Although they had the chance to take another wicket in the early part of the game, Wade was unable to catch an outside edge from Parag, off the bowling of Rashid Khan. Parag was able to break free from the pressure with a six and a four against Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan, respectively, leading RR to a score of 73/2 at the halfway point.

Parag and Samson took control of the game and completely transformed it by hitting the accelerator button. Parag hit a six over deep mid-wicket off Noor, scoring 50 runs in just 39 balls. He then hit another six in the same over, bringing RR’s total to 100 with a 15-run over.

Parage impressed with his 50 runs, scoring them in just 34 balls. He showcased his strength with a strong six over deep mid-wicket off Mohit Sharma, marking his third half-century in four innings.

The hitting spree at the boundary was joined by Samson, who managed to hit a six and two strong fours off Spencer Johnson’s bowling in the 15th over, adding 16 runs to the score. Within 64 balls, the duo had reached a partnership of 100 runs. Samson reached his personal milestone of fifty runs in just 31 balls. The strong partnership continued and brought the total to 130 runs in 78 balls before Parag (76 runs off 48 balls) was finally dismissed in the second last over, thanks to a great catch by Vijay Shankar on the long off boundary, off the bowling of Mohit Sharma.

In the end, it was Samson and Hetmyer who added the finishing touch, scoring 19 runs in the final over to help RR reach a total of 196/3. Samson’s innings of 68 runs off 38 balls and Hetmyer’s unbeaten 13 off 5 balls were crucial in this effort.

At the beginning of the second innings, GT’s Impact Player Mohit Sharma was replaced by Shahrukh Khan, while Yashasvi Jaiswal was substituted with Keshav Maharaj as the Impact player for RR.

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