Bengaluru: Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 73 and Mohammed Siraj’s superb 3-19 spell powered Gujarat Titans to a dominant eight-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL on Wednesday. Chasing 170, Gujarat comfortably reached the target with 13 balls to spare, thanks to a crucial 75-run stand between Buttler and Sai Sudharsan (49).
Siraj, who played for RCB for seven years, admitted it was an emotional return but stayed focused on the task. “There was some nervousness and emotion, but once I got the ball in my hand, it was full intensity,” he said. He credited Gujarat’s bowling coach Ashish Nehra for helping him rediscover his rhythm, adding, “He asked me to just enjoy myself and do whatever I wanted.”
Gujarat captain Shubman Gill hailed the team’s disciplined chase. “We always felt in the game after restricting them to 170. The pitch was tricky early on, but we batted professionally and adapted well,” he said.
Meanwhile, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar admitted that early wickets proved costly. “We were targeting around 190, but losing three wickets in the powerplay made a difference,” he said. However, he praised his middle order, saying, “The way Jitesh, Liam, and Tim batted after the early collapse was amazing.”
Despite RCB’s fighting effort, Buttler’s composed knock ensured Gujarat’s second successive win, cementing their strong start in the tournament.
