Ravi Bishnoi and Tushar Deshpande played key roles as the Rajasthan Royals registered a thrilling six-run win over the Gujarat Titans in a last-ball finish at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
Defending a challenging target of 211, the Rajasthan Royals bowlers did well in the death overs, thanks to disciplined bowling from Jofra Archer and Deshpande. Gujarat Titans, who looked in control in the chase, failed under pressure and eventually fell short.
In a video shared by the IPL website after the match, Bishnoi applauded Tushar Deshpande’s effort and said, “It is not always about batters. Bowlers’ game is still left. Well done, Tushar.”
Deshpande, who bowled the final over, admitted that the pressure was there but shared his execution.
“My heart rate was high. I had a belief at the top of my mind that I would execute yorkers today. The wicket was very good. There was a slight dew. So, the slower ball was not working that much. So, I tried to bowl a high-percentage ball. And I executed it under pressure with God’s grace.”
However, Gujarat needed 15 runs off the last two overs, but Jofra Archer conceded just four runs in the penultimate over, which changed the momentum. Deshpande then bowled a clutch final over, repeatedly hitting his yorkers to seal the match as well.
Reflecting on his game after missing the first match against the Chennai Super Kings due to injury, Deshpande said, “The last match was very unfortunate. There was a small incident, and I couldn’t play. So, I was a little fired up that I didn’t want to miss the match for the team. The way we are preparing, the intensity in the group-after Sanga’s (head coach Kumar Sangakkara) arrival, the togetherness is very good. And the way everyone is gearing up and planning for the team. So, I was a little dejected. I had to come and give my effort in this match.”
“The effort was to come and bowl on a good line” – Ravi Bishnoi
Earlier, the Gujarat Titans were going strong at 103 for 1 in 10 overs before Ravi Bishnoi triggered the slide with a stunning spell through the middle overs, finishing with 4 wickets as GT reduced to 161 for 7.
Speaking on this, Bishnoi said, “The effort was to come and bowl on a good line. And one side was big. So, Riyan and Dhruv said there was a little stickiness in the wicket at that time. So, I tried to hit it this way. There was a lefty. So, I was trying to hit it that way. And it was falling in a good place. And it was good even if it came out of my hand. So, you get that extra feel. So, maybe because of that, everything happened today.”
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