Rashid Khan's 4-33 dismantles RR as Gill's 84 powers GT to 77-run win
Synopsis
Rashid Khan's four-wicket masterclass turned a contest that briefly slipped away. Rajasthan looked destined for an extraordinary chase at 78/3 after six overs, but Gujarat's spinners — especially Rashid — extracted grip and uneven pace to reduce the hosts to 152. Gill's composed 84 and Sudharsan's 55 had set the stage; Rashid's googly and quicker deliveries sealed it.
Key Takeaways
Shubman Gill scored an unbeaten 84 and Sai Sudharsan added 55 as Gujarat Titans posted 229/4 in 20 overs .
Rashid Khan took 4 for 33 , dismantling Rajasthan Royals in the middle overs after they reached 78/3 in six overs.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi scored 36 off 16 balls and Dhruv Jurel hammered 22 runs in one over, but Rajasthan collapsed to 152 all out in 16.3 overs .
Ravindra Jadeja scored 38 off 25 balls in a brief rearguard; Jason Holder finished with 3 for 12 .
GT won by 77 runs , boosting their net run rate in the playoff race.
Shubman Gill's unbeaten 84 and Sai Sudharsan's 55 propelled Gujarat Titans to 229/4, before Rashid Khan's career-defining 4 for 33 shredded Rajasthan Royals in a 77-run IPL 2026 victory at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on 9 May. The Afghan leg-spinner's middle-overs stranglehold reduced Rajasthan from 78/3 after six overs to 152 all out in 16.3 overs, exposing the gulf between explosive powerplay cricket and sustained chase execution.
Gill and Sudharsan's opening masterclass
Gujarat's opening pair seized control from the first over, denying Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande any rhythm on a surface offering true bounce. Sudharsan was particularly fluent square of the wicket, while Gill — batting as captain — mixed timing with placement in a composed knock that set the template for the innings. The duo accelerated through the middle overs without losing shape, ensuring Gujarat crossed 225 comfortably and maintained momentum to the final over.
Rajasthan's explosive yet doomed powerplay
Chasing 230, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi announced himself with fearless intent, launching Mohammed Siraj for a six in the opening over and racing to 36 off 16 balls with three fours and three sixes. Dhruv Jurel then produced one of the tournament's most explosive passages, hammering Siraj for 22 runs in the fifth over — three towering sixes and a boundary — leaving Rajasthan at 78/3 after six overs with the required rate still manageable. For a moment, an extraordinary chase seemed plausible.
Rashid's decisive intervention
The turning point came when Gujarat introduced spin. Sai Kishore slowed the tempo with clever variations before Rashid Khan delivered the decisive blow. The leg-spinner removed the dangerous Jurel with a googly that sneaked under the bat, then struck Donovan Ferreira two balls later. Shubham Dubey briefly counterattacked with a six over midwicket, but Rashid responded instantly with a quicker delivery that turned sharply back in to bowl him. Washington Sundar tightened from the other end as Rajasthan's innings unravelled.
Jadeja's brief resistance and the collapse
Ravindra Jadeja mounted a spirited 38 off 25 balls, sweeping and pulling boundaries to briefly resist Gujarat's charge. However, the asking rate spiralled as Gujarat's spinners extracted grip and uneven pace from the ageing surface. Rashid removed Jadeja in the 14th over with a successful lbw review to complete his four-wicket haul and effectively seal the contest. Jason Holder then wrapped up the tail, dismissing Jofra Archer, Dasun Shanaka, and Tushar Deshpande to finish with 3 for 12.
What the victory means
While Rajasthan's explosive powerplay briefly hinted at a record chase, Gujarat's superior game management and exceptional spin bowling proved decisive. The win provided a massive boost to Gujarat's net run rate, strengthening their position in the playoff race and reinforcing their status as one of the tournament's most balanced sides.
Point of View
The asking rate climbed faster than Rajasthan could chase. Gujarat's game management was clinical: they let Rajasthan dream for six overs, then suffocated them. Gill's captaincy was evident in the field placements and the timing of spin introduction. This is what championship cricket looks like.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by 77 runs?
Gujarat posted 229/4 on the back of Shubman Gill's 84 and Sai Sudharsan's 55. Rajasthan were chasing well at 78/3 after six overs, but Rashid Khan's 4 for 33 and Washington Sundar's tight bowling dismantled the middle order, restricting them to 152 all out in 16.3 overs.
What was Rashid Khan's match-winning spell?
Rashid Khan took 4 for 33, removing the dangerous Dhruv Jurel with a googly, Donovan Ferreira two balls later, Shubham Dubey with a quicker delivery, and Ravindra Jadeja with an lbw. His spell turned the match decisively in Gujarat's favour after Rajasthan had threatened an unlikely chase.
Who were the top scorers in the match?
For Gujarat: Shubman Gill 84 not out and Sai Sudharsan 55. For Rajasthan: Ravindra Jadeja 38 off 25 balls, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 36 off 16 balls, and Dhruv Jurel, who was dismissed by Rashid Khan.
Why did Rajasthan's chase collapse despite a strong powerplay?
Rajasthan reached 78/3 after six overs with Sooryavanshi and Jurel attacking aggressively. However, once Gujarat introduced spin — particularly Rashid Khan and Sai Kishore — the surface began offering grip and uneven pace. The asking rate spiralled, and the middle order could not sustain the required tempo, collapsing to 152 all out in 16.3 overs.
