Gujarat Titans delivered a commanding performance to outplay Royal Challengers Bengaluru, with Jason Holder playing a decisive role in a win that significantly improved their net run rate.
After being put in to bat, RCB began aggressively thanks to Virat Kohli, who took on Kagiso Rabada early with a flurry of boundaries. He raced to 28 from just 13 deliveries before mistiming an attacking stroke that resulted in a catch in the deep. Mohammed Siraj had already removed Jacob Bethell cheaply, leaving RCB at 59 for 2 at the end of the powerplay.
A brief recovery came through Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar, who stitched together a 44 run stand. However, controversy followed when Holder took a low catch to dismiss Patidar, with replays sparking debate about control. The decision stood, leading to visible frustration within the RCB camp.
Holder then took centre stage, making his presence felt across the innings. He dismissed Jitesh Sharma, sent Romario Shepherd back to the pavilion, and held on to multiple catches, including those of Tim David and Krunal Pandya. His all-round contribution dismantled the middle order.
Despite the collapse, Padikkal continued to counterattack and top scored with 40 off 24 balls before Rashid Khan ended his stay. Late resistance from Venkatesh Iyer and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped push the total to 155, though the innings ended with deliveries to spare. Arshad Khan stood out with figures of 3 for 22.
In reply, Gujarat Titans came out firing. Shubman Gill set the tone by smashing Josh Hazlewood for a 24 run over, eventually scoring 43 from just 18 balls. Jos Buttler maintained the momentum with a rapid 39, keeping the chase firmly on track.
Although Bhuvneshwar picked up three wickets and Shepherd briefly created pressure with a double strike, the target never looked threatening. Holder added the finishing touches with a quick six before departing, leaving the rest to Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan.
The Titans completed the chase with ease, sealing victory with plenty of deliveries remaining and giving their net run rate a healthy boost.
