Ahmedabad, April 5 (NationPress) In a thrilling encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Gujarat Titans' temporary captain Rashid Khan acknowledged that his team lost vital momentum during the middle overs, resulting in a narrow six-run defeat against Rajasthan Royals in a high-scoring match of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Chasing 211 after Rajasthan set a target of 210/6, Gujarat looked promising for much of their innings, particularly with opener Sai Sudharsan playing a pivotal role. However, a series of wickets during the middle overs disrupted their rhythm, and the Titans ultimately ended at 204/8, unable to secure the win in the final over bowled by Tushar Deshpande.

After the match, Rashid, filling in for the sidelined regular captain Shubman Gill, noted that the bowlers had performed admirably to contain Rajasthan despite their strong start.

“Our bowling was commendable, especially after their strong start, as we managed to restrict them to under 210. The bowlers put forth a great effort on this surface. We also began our batting quite well, with the openers giving us a solid start. However, the loss of consecutive wickets in the 12th and 13th overs significantly set us back. If those wickets hadn’t fallen, scoring would have been easier. Unfortunately, we lost the game’s momentum during that critical phase,” he explained.

The Afghan all-rounder expressed that the pitch facilitated aggressive batting, and he believed the chase was achievable before the momentum shifted.

“On a pitch like this, scoring 9-10 runs per over isn’t overly challenging. I feel we just lost our momentum during those overs, which hindered our ability to sustain pressure. Boundaries were coming frequently, but the quick wickets we lost at that time prevented us from maintaining our momentum,” he added.

Despite the disappointing defeat, Rashid emphasized the need for the team to regroup quickly as the tournament continues.

“Every player has their own game plan and understands the conditions and situations well. It’s crucial to read the game’s requirements and conditions accurately. Everything is communicated clearly, which simplifies our job. It’s still early in the competition, and we will learn from our mistakes, improve, and return stronger in the next match,” he stated.

The Titans required 11 runs in the final over, but Deshpande’s precise yorkers kept the batters in check. Rashid mentioned that their discussion was clear: just find one boundary to change the equation.

“The message was straightforward; we needed to hit one boundary. If we accomplished that, we wouldn’t need many more boundaries in that over. Tushar bowled exceptionally well, delivering remarkable yorkers. We couldn't capitalize, but I believe I should have hit that one ball he missed for six,” he noted.

Rashid also provided an update on the regular Gujarat captain Shubman Gill, who missed the match due to a muscle spasm, leading to Rashid’s captaincy and the debut of young opener Kumar Kushagra. “He’s doing well. We hope he’ll recover in time for the next game. It was just a muscle spasm, so we’re optimistic about his quick return,” he concluded.