Indian Premier League
Gujarat Titans Defeat Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2025: Buttler’s Brilliance and Siraj’s Spell Guide the Titans to a Comfortable Victory
The Gujarat Titans (GT) continued their impressive start to the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with an eight-wicket win over the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on April 4th. With this victory, GT recorded their second consecutive win and moved into the top-4 of the points table. Meanwhile, RCB, despite a strong start to the season, had to settle for a third-place position after the defeat.
RCB’s Struggles with the Bat: Siraj and Khan Lead GT’s Dominant Bowling Show
RCB’s decision to bat first backfired as GT’s bowlers delivered a clinical performance. Despite a stroke of luck early on when Jos Buttler dropped Phil Salt on zero off Mohammed Siraj in the first over, RCB couldn’t capitalize on that moment. Left-arm pacer Arshad Khan struck early, dismissing Virat Kohli (7 off 6) before Siraj cleaned up Devdutt Padikkal’s off-stump, continuing from where he left off in the previous match against Mumbai Indians.
The Salt-Siraj saga continued, with Salt launching a massive 105-meter six off Siraj in the fifth over. However, Siraj bounced back brilliantly, taking out Salt in the very next delivery, cleaning up his stumps.
With RCB at 42/4 just after the powerplay, it looked like their batting order had crumbled. While Jitesh Sharma and Liam Livingstone mounted a brief recovery, including a dropped catch from Rahul Tewatia off Sai Kishore, the partnership was broken when Tewatia made amends and held onto a skier from Sharma (33 off 21). Livingstone tried to up the ante, hitting Rashid Khan for three sixes in the 18th over, but even his blistering 40-ball 54 couldn’t prevent RCB from posting a challenging total.
Tim David’s quick-fire 18-ball 32 at the end helped RCB to 169/8 after 20 overs. However, it was GT’s bowlers, especially Siraj (3/19) and Kishore (2/22), who set the tone for the victory.
Buttler and Sudharsan Shine as GT Chase Down 170 with Ease
GT’s chase got off to a steady start, but RCB got an early breakthrough when Shubman Gill (14 off 14) was sent back by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, leaving GT at 33/1 after five overs. However, it was Jos Buttler (73* off 39) and Sai Sudharsan (49 off 36) who turned the game in GT’s favor.
The duo played with confidence, and Buttler, in particular, shifted gears after a cautious start, smacking an 18-run over off Rasikh Dar Salam. By the halfway mark, GT were cruising at 82/1, with Buttler and Sudharsan having added a vital 50-run partnership.
Sudharsan fell just short of his third consecutive half-century this season, departing for 49, but Buttler remained steady, bringing up his second half-century of the season off just 31 balls. His six over long-on marked a pivotal moment, and with support from Sherfane Rutherford (30* off 18), GT cruised to the target in 17.5 overs. Buttler’s match-winning knock remained unbeaten as GT sealed a dominant win.
Player of the Match: Mohammed Siraj
Mohammed Siraj was awarded the Player of the Match for his brilliant bowling performance. His 3/19 spell was instrumental in breaking RCB’s middle order, and his timely wickets kept GT ahead throughout the match. Siraj’s ability to come back strong after the early setback and his delivery under pressure earned him the accolades.
Looking Ahead: GT vs SRH, RCB vs MI
Following this crucial win, Gujarat Titans will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Hyderabad on Sunday, April 6th. On the other hand, Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to bounce back when they face Mumbai Indians in Mumbai on Monday, April 7th.
As IPL 2025 continues to heat up, the race for the top spots remains competitive. With strong performances from key players like Buttler and Siraj, GT have established themselves as a team to watch this season.
Stay tuned for more updates on the TATA IPL 2025!
Match Summary:
RCB Innings: 169/8 (20 overs)
Top Scorers: Liam Livingstone 54(40), Tim David 32(18)
Top Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj 3/19, Sai Kishore 2/22
GT Innings: 170/2 (17.5 overs)
Top Scorers: Jos Buttler 73*(39), Sai Sudharsan 49(36)
Top Bowlers: Mohammed Siraj 3/19, Sai Kishore 2/22
For detailed match stats and the full scorecard, visit the official IPL website.
This blog post provides a comprehensive recap of GT’s thrilling victory over RCB, highlighting key performances from both teams. Whether you’re a cricket fan or just an IPL enthusiast, this match showcased the excitement that the 2025 season promises.