Jurel and Bishnoi star as Rajasthan Royals edge Gujarat Titans by six runs in Ahmedabad thriller
Dhruv Jurel smashed 75 off 42 balls and Ravi Bishnoi grabbed four wickets as Rajasthan Royals held off Gujarat Titans by six runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with Tushar Deshpande defending 11 off the final over.
Jurel and Jaiswal power Royals to 210
The Royals won the toss and chose to bat, then got off to a strong start through Yashasvi Jaiswal, who made 55 off 36 balls before Kagiso Rabada bowled him with a rapid delivery. The real fireworks came from Jurel, who walked in at number three and took apart the Gujarat bowling attack with clean hitting through the arc. His 75 off 42 deliveries gave the Royals the momentum they needed in the death overs, propelling them to 210 for 6.
Gujarat's bowlers struggled to contain the scoring once Jurel found his range. He hit boundaries at will through the off side and cleared the ropes twice in a single Rashid Khan over, a rare sight for any batter facing the Afghan leg-spinner.
Sudharsan fights back but Bishnoi turns the match
Gujarat looked well placed during their chase when Sai Sudharsan settled in and started finding the boundary. His 73 off 44 balls kept the Titans in the contest, and at one stage the asking rate looked manageable.
Bishnoi changed everything. The leg-spinner ripped through Gujarat's middle order with four wickets, removing the set batters and leaving the lower order with too much to do. Sudharsan's dismissal, caught by Deshpande off Bishnoi, was the decisive moment. From that point, the required rate climbed beyond reach.
Deshpande holds his nerve in a tense final over
Gujarat still needed 11 from the last six balls, and the crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium was on its feet. Deshpande, not always the most reliable death bowler, kept his lengths tight and his yorkers on target. He conceded just four, and the Royals won by six runs to pick up their second victory of the tournament.
For Gujarat, it was a second defeat that leaves them searching for answers. Rashid Khan's side have the talent but keep falling short in pressure moments. The Royals, by contrast, are building nicely after a strong opening week.
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