Sunday’s second match of the IPL 2023 doubleheader featured Gujarat Titans versus Rajasthan Royals. Rajasthan defeated Gujarat in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, avenging last year’s loss. Rajasthan, captained by Sanju Samson, defeated Gujarat decisively and headed the points table.
Gujarat scored 177 for 7 in 20 overs while batting first. Rajasthan achieved victory with three wickets and four deliveries remaining. Shimron Hetmyer of the West Indies was the hero of Rajasthan’s victory, striking 56 not out off 26 deliveries with 5 sixes and 2 fours.
But before that, captain Sanju Samson scored 60 runs in 32 deliveries to lay the foundation for victory. Sanju struck the Gujarat bowlers with force. Even the ace spinner of Gujarat, Rashid Khan, was not immune to his strikes. Sanju smashed Rashid for three consecutive sixes in a single over, shocking everyone.
Rajasthan Royals won the 16th season of IPL on Sunday by three wickets.
Rashid Khan is regarded as the IPL’s most accurate bowler. Yesterday, however, Rashid conceded 46 runs in four overs at an economy rate of 11.50. He became Gujarat’s most expensive bowler.
In the thirteenth over, Rashid Khan of Rajasthan Royals took the ball from Gujarat. In light of Rashid’s prior expertise, he has bowled exceptionally well. This time, however, Sanju gave him a shock he will never forget. The second ball of the thirteenth over was a six struck by Sanju over long off. On the third delivery, Sanju struck a backfoot six towards mid-wicket, and on the fourth delivery, he completed his hat-trick by striking his third consecutive six. He hit six sixes and three fours during his innings.
After Sanju was dismissed, Hetmyer dominated the Gujarat bowlers. He struck a six off the second delivery of the final over to give Rajasthan an emphatic win. With this victory, Rajasthan headed the point table with four victories out of five and eight points. His net run rate is also positive, at 1.354%. Lucknow, followed by Gujarat and the Punjab Kings, is in second place. KKR is in fifth place, Chennai is in sixth, RCB is in seventh, Mumbai is in eighth, Hyderabad is in ninth, and Delhi is in last place after losing all five of its matches.
