The M. Chinnaswamy Stadium roared with anticipation on a balmy Wednesday evening as the Gujarat Titans (GT) clashed with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in a high-octane Tata IPL 2025 encounter. What unfolded was a tale of redemption, raw pace, and a chase laced with grit—all under the bright Bengaluru lights.
Toss & Tactics: Titans Opt to Bowl, Siraj Returns to Haunt RCB
GT skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and, without hesitation, chose to bowl first—a decision met with murmurs of surprise given RCB’s reputation as a batting powerhouse. But Gill’s gamble paid off spectacularly, thanks to a fired-up Mohammed Siraj, who returned to his former home ground wearing GT colors.
“We wanted to exploit the early moisture, and Siraj was our trump card,” Gill later revealed.
RCB’s Rollercoaster Innings: Livingstone’s Grit Meets Siraj’s Fury
Powerplay Carnage: Siraj Destroys RCB’s Top Order**
The match exploded into life as Siraj, channeling his inner warrior, ripped through RCB’s star-studded lineup:
- Virat Kohli (18 off 12): The crowd held its breath as Kohli lofted a drive off Arshad Khan, only to be caught at mid-off. Chinnaswamy fell silent.
- Phil Salt (9 off 7): Siraj’s inswinger trapped Salt plumb LBW. The pacer celebrated with a Cristiano Ronaldo-style “Siuuu”, igniting GT’s dugout.
- Devdutt Padikkal (12 off 10): A vicious bouncer kissed Padikkal’s glove, flying to Jos Buttler. RCB slumped to 45/3 in 5 overs.
Livingstone & David: The Rescue Act
At 82/5, RCB’s hopes rested on Liam Livingstone, who played a knock dripping with defiance. The Englishman smashed Rashid Khan for back-to-back sixes, reaching his 50 with a swagger.
“I just wanted to target the shorter boundaries,” Livingstone said post-match.
Partnering with Tim David (32* off 18), the duo added 46 runs in 24 balls. David’s helicopter shot off Prasidh Krishna in the final over brought the crowd to its feet, pushing RCB to 169/8.
Siraj’s Redemption Arc: 3/30 Steals the Show
But the night belonged to Siraj. His 3/30 included the crucial wicket of Livingstone, caught at deep mid-wicket. “This stadium made me who I am, but today, I played for GT’s pride,” Siraj said emotionally.
Supporting Cast:
- Sai Kishore (2/28): The left-arm spinner outfoxed Jitesh Sharma (33 off 21) and Krunal Pandya.
- Ishant Sharma’s Experience: The veteran dismissed RCB captain Rajat Patidar (24 off 18) with a cleverly disguised slower ball.
GT’s Chase: Gill & Sudarshan Paint a Masterclass
Chasing 170, GT’s openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudarshan transformed pressure into poetry.
Gill’s Grace Meets Sudarshan’s Flair
- Shubman Gill: The skipper oozed elegance, driving Bhuvneshwar Kumar through covers and flicking Hazlewood wristily. His 41 off 28 set the tone.
- Sai Sudarshan: The young left-hander was audacious, reverse-sweeping Yash Dayal and launching Livingstone into the second tier. His 56* off 39 earned him Player of the Match.
RCB’s Bowling: Too Little, Too Late
RCB’s bowlers fought hard, with Tim David (1/22) breaking the 89-run opening stand. But GT’s middle order, led by Rahul Tewatia’s cameo (19* off 10), sealed the win with 7 balls to spare.
Turning Point: Siraj’s Double Strike in the Powerplay
The match swung irreversibly when Siraj dismissed Kohli and Salt in quick succession. RCB never fully recovered, despite Livingstone’s heroics.
Post-Match Reactions: What They Said
- Shubman Gill (GT Captain): “Siraj was phenomenal. We backed our strengths, and Sai [Sudarshan] is a superstar in the making.”
- Rajat Patidar (RCB Captain): “Losing early wickets cost us. We’ll bounce back stronger.”
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