Different guys standing up at different times - Boult on RR's win

Ahead of the first meeting in IPL 2023, Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals had faced off against each other three times, with the Hardik Pandya-led team emerging victorious on all three occasions - including the Qualifier 1 and the final. Skipper Pandya and David Miller had essayed key roles in the three wins and they were at it again in the Ahmedabad game on Sunday (April 16).

The Titans posted a competitive 177/7, thanks to Miller's 46 and useful contributions from the rest of the batters. They targetted the Royals spinners as R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal and Adam Zampa all went in excess of 30 runs from their quota of overs while Trent Boult also proved expensive. The Titans then came up with a clinical show with the ball in the first half of the chase. With key incisions from Mohammed Shami, Hardik Pandya and Rashid Khan, the Royals were reduced to 55/4 in the 11th over.

But the Royals staged a brilliant comeback. Captain Sanju Samson's 32-ball 60 revived the chase before Shimron Hetmyer finished it off with four deliveries to spare, scoring an unbeaten 56 off 26 deliveries. Between them, Samson and Hetmyer struck 11 sixes, with 10 of them coming in the second half of the chase, as the Royals turned it around to register their first win against the Titans.

"It was a significant win. The history between the Titans and us, they have got out number in that respect. Any game we come from behind and absorb a bit of pressure, take the game deep like that and be on the right side, is very satisfying. There is some good vibes in the change room and that feels good to come out on the right side of the result," said Boult in the post match press conference.

Boult observed that the Titans pacers hit the right lengths and made things difficult for the RR batters but they managed to hang in there and hit back, not succumbing to the pressure. "It's hard to pinpoint a certain moment in the game but that's the nature of T20 cricket - you are never out of the game and just having the belief that you can win from anywhere. The amount of meetings every teams has, and our team specifically, and talks about tactics, it was nice to go out there and put some of the stuff in play.

"Obviously picking 12 overs of spin, I thought they pulled it back very nicely and every over counts but Sandy [Sandeep Sharma] closed that innings out nicely. 175 [177], pretty good wicket, they bowled very well on it, showed us how to bowl with the lengths and some good swing on offer there. Once again, just absorbed that and got ourselves in a position where a couple of boundaries and it swung back to us.

"We got some very talented batters in our side and I think the real positive is seeing guys stand up at different times. Jos [Buttler] is obviously a massive player for us and I'm sure he'll be frustrated to miss out on some runs tonight. But the hunger from the rest of the batting unit to want to contribute, it's different guys standing up at different times," added Boult.

Afghanistan's Noor Ahmad, who came in as an impact player, had an expensive start but he accounted for the key wicket of Samson, dismissing him in the 15th over to leave the Royals at 114/5. They needed 64 to win off the last five overs when Hetmyer cut loose, and with help from Dhruv Jurel and R Ashwin, took the Royals over the line, scoring a six off Ahmad in the final over.

Ahmad gave away only eight runs in the 17th over but Alzarri Joseph, Shami and Rashid ended up conceding 49 in their three overs combined in the death. The Titans' director of cricket, Vikram Solanki, defended the choice of bowlers used in the death, and also sprung to the defence of Ahmad who ended up with 1-29 from 2.2 overs on debut.

"In the last four overs, I think if you think of how Mohammed Shami bowled in his opening spell...Mohit Sharma was an option. The last over, with seven runs to defend, it was important to try and take a wicket. Noor broke that partnership for us and actually brought us back in the game (with the wicket of Samson). I thought he was brilliant. I suppose it becomes a line call to see if he can try and take a wicket at that stage.

"I just think what a wonderful debut for Noor, to have taken that important wicket, under pressure, to come in and do what he did, was exceptional. It speaks volumes of his character. And the fact that Hardik had the confidence in him, to bowl him in those difficult phases, speaks about the confidence that he has," said Solanki.

For the Titans, it was their second disappointment at home this season after their earlier loss to Kolkata Knight Riders. Solanki the loss came as a disappointment but assured that the team will make its fans proud.

"There is an element of winning and losing in games but we are very grateful for the supporters that come out and support us. I think we've given them something to support in the past and we'll continue to work hard to ensure that they have a team that they are proud of. We work very hard. Yes it's a loss, yes we're disappointed with the fact that we've not been on the right side of the result today. We will assess every element of this game as we've done with our wins as well as our losses," said Solanki.