Gujarat Titans won by 4 wickets with 25 balls remaining against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 42 of the Indian Premier League, with Jason Holder producing the standout all-round display. Holder claimed 2 for 29 in four overs and then finished unbeaten on 12 off 10 as GT chased 156 in just 15.5 overs.
The result extended the IPL league stage narrative rather than deciding anything outright, but it was another timely boost for Gujarat in Match 42 of 70. RCB had come into this fixture after a thumping nine-wicket win in Match 39, while GT had already shown strong recent form with victories in Matches 37 and earlier in the campaign. With plenty still to come in the league phase, every result is tightening the race toward the business end.
RCB’s 155 all out in 19.2 overs looked competitive at first glance, especially after an explosive start. Virat Kohli set the tone with 28 off 13 balls, striking five fours and a six, and Devdutt Padikkal carried the innings with 40 off 24, including five fours and two sixes. Rajat Patidar added 19 off 15, but Bengaluru never quite found the sustained middle-overs surge they needed.
The innings turned once Gujarat’s attack began to squeeze. Jason Holder’s 2 for 29 provided control through the middle, Rashid Khan was excellent with 2 for 19 in four overs, and Arshad Khan was the most damaging bowler with 3 for 22 in 3.2 overs as he cleaned up the lower order. Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada picked up one wicket each, but it was the combined discipline of Holder, Rashid and Arshad that kept RCB from pushing beyond the mid-150s.
There were useful contributions lower down from Romario Shepherd, who hit 17 off 15 with two sixes, Venkatesh Iyer’s 12 off 15, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 15 off 15, but RCB lost momentum badly after the top order’s early thrust. From a platform built by Kohli and Padikkal, they were unable to assemble the kind of late partnership that often turns 155 into 175.
Gujarat’s reply was ferocious. Shubman Gill came out in a hurry and blasted 43 off just 18 balls, with four fours and three sixes, immediately putting the chase on RCB’s bowlers. Jos Buttler matched that intent with 39 off 19, striking four sixes and two fours, and their strokeplay meant the asking rate never had a chance to climb.
Even when wickets fell, GT kept control. Washington Sundar made 12 off 12, M Shahrukh Khan added 8 off 8, and Rahul Tewatia played a sharp hand of 27 off 17 with four boundaries to keep the chase moving. Holder then stayed calm at the back end with 12 off 10, while Rashid Khan’s unbeaten 7 off 6 helped close out the target at 158 for 6 in 15.5 overs.
RCB did have a brief opening through Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who bowled superbly for 3 for 28 in four overs and was the pick of their attack. Romario Shepherd chipped in with 2 for 30, and Suyash Sharma took 1 for 44. But Josh Hazlewood’s 0 for 56 in four overs proved costly on a night when Gujarat’s top order attacked relentlessly from the outset.
The match-turning passage came in the powerplay and immediately after it. Gill’s 43 off 18 and Buttler’s 39 off 19 stripped the chase of pressure, turning a target of 156 into a sprint rather than a scrap. Once RCB failed to cash in fully after Kohli and Padikkal’s fast start, Gujarat’s deeper hitters and cleaner finishing options held the advantage.
From a tournament form perspective, the contest also underlined the value of Gujarat’s established core. Gill, who had already scored 344 runs in 9 matches before this fixture, added another decisive innings, while Sai Sudharsan’s strong season total remained the backdrop to a batting unit that keeps finding different match-winners. For RCB, Kohli’s tournament consistency and Bhuvneshwar’s wicket-taking threat were evident again, but they were outweighed by Gujarat’s sharper all-round execution on the night.
Key performers
- Jason Holder (GT): 12* off 10 and 2/29 in 4 overs
- Shubman Gill (GT): 43 off 18
- Jos Buttler (GT): 39 off 19
- Devdutt Padikkal (RCB): 40 off 24
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar (RCB): 3/28 in 4 overs
- Arshad Khan (GT): 3/22 in 3.2 overs
- Rashid Khan (GT): 2/19 in 4 overs
NerdSports Stat: Gujarat chased 156 with 25 balls to spare despite losing six wickets, and their top two scorers did all the damage at extreme pace — Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler combined for 82 runs from just 37 balls at a strike rate of 221.62.
The IPL moves quickly on. Next up in the league is Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals on Friday, May 1, while Gujarat Titans will next face Punjab Kings on Sunday, May 3 and Royal Challengers Bengaluru meet Lucknow Super Giants on Thursday, May 7.
Frequently Asked Questions
Gujarat Titans won the match by 4 wickets with 25 balls remaining.
Jason Holder was named Player of the Match for his 2 for 29 in four overs and unbeaten 12 off 10 in the chase.
This was Match 42 of 70 in the Indian Premier League league stage, so the result extends the standings race rather than deciding it, with several fixtures still to come.
Shubman Gill top-scored with 43 off 18 balls.
The next match in the Indian Premier League is Rajasthan Royals vs Delhi Capitals on Friday, May 1.
