Sangwan returns to get GT closer to qualification

The Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the forty-third game of the 2022 Indian Premier League (IPL). The match was played in the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai. Rahul Tewatia was adjudged to be the Man of the Match.

Kohli overshadowed by Patidar

After batting first at the toss, Faf du Plessis could not reap the benefits of his decision when he fell in the second over to a Pradeep Sangwan delivery angling across his bat that took the edge to the wicketkeeper. It brought in Rajat Patidar at No. 3 alongside Virat Kohli and together they were watchful in their rebuilding before three boundaries off their bats in the fourth over opened up the run flow.

When the boundaries were tough, the 40-degree Celsius temperatures did not prevent Kohli and Patidar from working with ones and twos, and as both gained confidence, it was evident that Kohli would anchor while Patidar had the freedom to go for his strokes. Patidar hit Rashid Khan for a six, the two then crushed Lockie Ferguson for a 15-run over, and after Patidar went after Alzarri Joseph again, it was a race to see who could reach fifty first. Kohli would score his first IPL 2022 half-century in the 13th over, and Patidar would score his first IPL fifty in the next over.

Inning that ended in tie

It was time for the set hitters to start hitting from both ends at 110 for 1 after 14 overs. Patidar, on the other hand, miscued a scoop to give Sangwan a second wicket in the 15th over, and Kohli was out in the 17th over to a slower-ball yorker from Shami before Glenn Maxwell could rev up his engine.

Khan then roped in Dinesh Karthik, and the revolving door of fresh batters meant that only one end of the batters could attack during that key period. Maxwell's late hits pushed him to 33, and Mahipal Lomror's cameo of 16 helped the Royal Challengers reach 170 for 6.

Kohli's 53-ball 58 with a strike rate of under 110 may come under scrutiny at the conclusion of the game, but he took up the position of anchor for the early recovery after du Plessis' wicket. After that, he fell just as he was about to speed after his fifty.

RCB's ambitions dashed by Miller-Tewatia

The chase of 171 was difficult because the pitch was turning and the IPL venues were beginning to wear down, putting the Royal Challengers' spinners and change-up bowlers in a strong position. Wriddhiman Saha, the powerplay specialist, got off to a similar start as he had in his previous game, allowing Shubhman Gill to settle in. When the Titans reached 50 for no loss in the seventh over, Gill had only made 19 runs.

In need of a wicket, du Plessis turned to wristspinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who dismissed Saha for 29 with a googly that the batter mis-hit down the ground almost immediately. When Shahbaz Ahmed drove a faster ball in after the batsman had struck him for a six and a four, Gill was out leg before wicket (lbw) against the run of play. The Titans went from 69 for 2 to 96 for 4 in four overs, thanks to the two spinners' easy dismissals of Sai Sudharsan and Hardik Pandya. Pandya had the misfortune of hitting a full Ahmed ball to long on for a catch on 3, while Sudharsan was caught behind after getting an edge.

Tewatia, the contest's eventual player of the match, was nearly out in his first ball but survived an lbw ruling off Mohammed Siraj after the third umpire overruled it following a review. David Miller, on the other hand, made sure Hasaranga didn't finish strong by hitting him for a six and a four. Siraj then gave Tewatia two fours and four leg-byes.

Hazlewood was called back on in search of a quiet over with the equation down to 36 off three overs, but it was not to be. Tewatia creamed him through the covers after flicking him over fine leg. Following a long stretch of being the underdogs in the hunt, Miller closed the 18th with a four, and the Titans were declared the favorites after a 17-run over.

With the momentum on their side, the Titans smashed Harshal Patel's 19th over for 12 runs, and with seven runs needed off the final over, the two hitters shared the spoils by hitting a boundary apiece and finished with three balls to spare.