Gujarat Titans defeated Chennai Super Kings by eight wickets thanks to a disciplined attack led by South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada, who took 3/25 in the IPL on Sunday.
Pace bowler Rabada struck twice in his second over to set the tone for his team’s dominance as they restricted Chennai to 158/7 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.
Gujarat recovered from two losses to take fifth place in the 10-team standings, with Sai Sudharsan hitting 87 off 46 balls to lead them home with 20 balls remaining.
With a 58-run opening partnership, Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, who scored 33, set the stage for the chase.
In the seventh over, Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad struck, and thanks to Sanju Samson’s deft glovework, he dislodged the bails with the batters’ foot just centimeters off the ground, leaving Gill stumped.
Jos Buttler scored an undefeated 39 while Sudharsan remained steadfast and put on a partnership of 97.
Gujarat needed four runs to win, and Buttler hit the game-winning six after Dewald Brevis made an incredible catch in the deep to remove Sudharsan off Akeal Hosein.
Despite captain Ruturaj Gaikwad’s undefeated 74, Rabada was skillfully assisted by fellow quick Mohammed Siraj (1/23) to damage Chennai with frequent hits.
Rabada’s pace and accuracy made him stand out. He dismissed Urvil Patel for four off three balls after catching the in-form Samson for 11.
Sarfaraz Khan, who entered as an impact substitution, was dismissed for a first-ball duck by Siraj, and Brevis’ departure for two further undermined the batting.
With assistance from Jamie Overton (18), Kartik Sharma (15), and Shivam Dube (22), Gaikwad played a defiant knock to reach his maiden fifty of the season.
However, the effort was insufficient, as Chennai lost for the fifth time in eight games.
