Gujarat Titans (GT) batting implodes in the IPL Finals as a resolute Kohli leads Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to their second IPL win in two years
Gujarat Titans – 155/8 (Washington Sundar 50* off 37 balls, Rasikh Salam 27/3 in 4 overs) lost to Royal Challengers Bengaluru – 161/5 (18 overs) (Virat Kohli 75* off 52 balls) by 5 wickets
Man of the Match: Virat Kohli
A match that was predicted to be between the best all-round batting team of RCB versus the best bowling team of GT in the competition was turned around it’s head as the underrated RCB bowlers blew away the classy GT top order to leave them reeling. GT had as many as 9 players capable of batting, but were desperately short of quality in the lower order. The doubt that had been lingering since the beginning of the tournament came back to bite them in the most crucial match.
The batting trio of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler had been prolific throughout this IPL season, accounting for close to 2000 runs between them and at a healthy strike rate. Combined with their superior bowling attack, the team has done credibly throughout the tournament, papering over the obvious cracks in the rest of the batting lineup.
Just before the game, luck did not favour GT much, though. Playing their third match in six days across different locations and after getting delayed due to stormy weather to reach the venue for the Finals, they lost the toss and were put in to bat first. A limp batting display followed, and they posted an inadequate 155/8. A spirited GT bowling display, especially from the indomitable Rashid Khan, kept them marginally in the game. But with a determined Kohli in the middle, it was never going to be enough, and RCB won the game comfortably by 5 wickets with two overs to spare.
GT openers dismissed early and runs dries up
The start was decent enough for GT. Duffy was glanced and then driven for four by Sudharsan in the first over. The batsman was then given out to a leg-side strangle, only to be overturned by the third umpire after GT reviewed. Gill then creamed a pristine cover drive off Bhuvneshwar for a boundary before charging down to pull Hazlewood authoritatively for another boundary towards deep midwicket. 22/0 in 2.1 overs, and it all went downhill for GT from then on.
The RCB bowlers used the bouncer and hard length to good effect, not allowing the GT batsmen to line them up and go with their shots. Having been pulled for a boundary, Hazlewood bowled a hard length directed towards the body of Gill, who tried the same shot again, but got a leading edge. The ball ballooned straight up towards mid-on, where, after a slight misunderstanding with Duffy, Rajat Patidar at mid-off ran in and gobbled up a smart catch. Next over, Sudharsan swung airily to an off-side bouncer from the ever-dependable Bhuvneshwar Kumar and skied towards short fine leg, where Jitesh, the wicketkeeper, ran and held on to another crucial catch.
With Buttler joining Nishant Sindhu, they had to ensure that no further wickets were lost, and RCB bowlers started putting on an almighty squeeze. Since Gill was dismissed, 33 runs off 34 balls were scored. Sindhu lost patience and swung desperately to a short ball by Rasikh Salam and was caught at long on.
Things could have gotten worse for GT as Washington Sundar top-edged another short ball from Duffy towards fine leg, where Jordan Cox looked to have pouched a well-judged catch, and Washington was on his way back to the pavilion. But the third umpire checked and decided that the ball appeared to have been touched the ground between the fingers of the fielder and Washington had a reprieve. Still, a score of 63/3 after 10 overs did not look very promising.
At the other end, Krunal Pandya was having a great day. Not overdoing it with his variations, but doing just enough, he tied down the batsmen. 13 runs were scored off his first three overs. 73/3 after 12 overs, and GT were just going nowhere. Buttler was getting twitchy and looked to step out to Krunal, and the wily bowler fired it wide towards off, and Jitesh completed a quick stumping. Buttler had scored 19 off 23 balls.
Arshad Khan was promoted up the order and promised something special with a couple of lusty sixes, but was another victim of the short ball as he was caught at short fine leg off Hazlewood for 15 off 6 balls. At 115/5 in 16 overs, GT would have lowered their expectations and looked to be targeting around 160. However, Bhuvneshwar dismissed Holder, again with a short ball and the ever-impressive Rasikh got rid of Tewatia and Rashid Khan to finish with 27/3. With 19 wickets in this year’s IPL, he was an able foil to Bhuvneshwar and Hazlewood, and a major contributor to RCB’s success this season.
Washington fought a lone hand as GT tried to muster up a decent score. With wickets falling regularly, he did not try anything spectacular. Some good-looking shots on the leg side proved what a great utility player he is. This has proved to be a hindrance in the past, as various team managements have pushed him to perform diverse roles ranging from opening the batting or bowling, to lower-order hitting. Some clarity on his role may help the young man blossom into the wonderful player he can be. His unbeaten 50 off 37 balls was the only bright spot in the otherwise abject batting display.
RCB starts their innings rapidly
Siraj started with a good opening over, as Venkatesh Iyer, imitating a cat on a hot tin roof, almost got himself bowled trying for a ramp shot, as he moved far away to his off side. Only the swing generated by Siraj saved him as the ball moved away from the leg stump. The fourth ball of the over hit Iyer hard just above his knees, and he was in visible pain.
This seemed to stir Iyer even more as he started backing away and swinging, slashing and edging at every ball and also middling a few. It was all very frantic. Rabada was taken for 18 runs off his first over, and the already anaemic target started shrinking too fast for GT’s liking. By the time Siraj dismissed him in the fifth over, he had scored 32 off 16 balls with a control percentage in the 40s, and RCB were 62 in 4.3 overs. Less than a hundred runs remained, and the required rate was slightly above 6.
Iyer’s approach initially appeared to even influence Kohli, as he charged down and looked to slog Siraj, but got beaten. Regaining his composure, Kohli used his trademark pull next ball for a boundary towards deep midwicket. The next over from Rabada was classic Kohli as he peppered the leg side boundary with flicks and pull shots for 19 runs, including a six and three fours, the wristy six over deep midwicket being the shot of the day. It was majestic stroke-making of the highest class. Rabada, GT’s premium bowler, had gone for 37 in his two overs and RCB were well on their way to their second IPL title.
GT bowlers stage a mini comeback
GT, in their desperation for wickets, kept on bowling Siraj and Rabada unchanged for 7 overs despite them taking a pounding, especially the latter. Rabada, however, had something to smile about as Devdutt Padikkal slashed a fullish ball towards third man, making Rabada the highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 29 wickets. Patidar started aggressively, but was caught right at the long-on boundary, trying to launch Rashid for a six. Krunal, the next batsman, went for a sweep and was plumb LBW in the same over. At 91/4 in the 9th over, RCB were still firm favourites, but they needed to play sensibly.
Kohli guides RCB to their second IPL trophy
Kohli had started right off the blocks and reached his 50 in 24 balls with a pulled boundary to deep midwicket. It was his fastest IPL 50 ever. But with 43 required in 52 balls, the required rate was never a problem, and he started going more steadily.
Tim David was also playing an uncharacteristically quiet innings when he muscled a flat six over long on off a shortish Rashid ball. A boundary slapped towards deep cover off a short ball off Arshad Khan later, he was feathered one to the keeper to be dismissed for 24 off 17 balls. There was some confusion as the umpire initially did not give it out, but Arshad Khan was adamant, and the review confirmed the faint nick.
Kohli was struggling with cramps, and Arshad Khan almost had his wicket as Kohli cover drove on the up towards Shubman Gill, but like in Washington’s case in the first innings, the ball was deemed to have been grounded between the fingers of the fielder. Kohli celebrated with a fist pump, and there was only one way this would end from then on. Rashid, the most threatening of the GT bowlers on this day, was seen off in his next over. But Arshad Khan was taken for 10 off the last two balls of the match as Kohli finished the match hammering one over long on for a six and was unbeaten on 75 off 52 balls.
It brought a massive turnaround for RCB and also to the IPL career of a legend, who had waited 17 years for their first title and has now won two on the trot, giving validation to the phrase, “when it rains, it pours.” What made this even sweeter was the fact that Kohli was at the crease and scored the winning runs.
GT, on the other hand, had a credible season, but their weakness was evident quite early in the season. It was only due to the combined excellence of their top order and quality bowling attack that they managed to reach so far. Alas, just when it mattered the most, their Achilles’ Heel was left exposed.