Sudharsan's century went in vain as RCB chased down GT's 206-run target with seven balls to spare.
Invited to bat first, the Titans posted 205/3 on the board. Opener Sai Sudharsan scored a brilliant 100 off 58 balls, however, RCB restricted GT to only 35 runs in the final four overs, which proved critical.
In reply, RCB rode on half-centuries from Virat Kohli (81 off 44 balls) and Devdutt Padikkal (55 off 27) to seal the win with seven deliveries to spare.
After the game, GT skipper Shubman Gill cited a lack of boundaries between overs 16-19 and failure to take wickets in the middle overs as key reasons for their defeat against RCB.
"Yeah, definitely, I think, from 16 till 19, those three overs, we couldn't get any boundaries and we didn't get as many runs as we would have liked. I think those three overs were very crucial for us. I mean, at the end of the powerplay, I think we were in a good position. It was all about taking wickets in the middle overs, which I think we were not able to just after the powerplay got over," Gill said at the post-match presentation.
Gill conceded the dropped catch of Kohli on zero proved costly, while also lamenting that the bowling unit failed to consistently hit their lengths on a pitch where it was hard to score.
“I mean, when a batsman gets dropped or not, it's always, it's tough on the fielder, but I think it's important how you come back in the game. And with the ball, I think we had our moments, but I don't think we were able to consistently hit the length ball, which was at times difficult to hit on this wicket. And you know, some balls here and there, and I think they batted brilliantly in the middle overs,” he added.
Shubman Gill explained his decision to use spinner Manav Suthar in the 18th over. “When we were batting, the balls that were, when I was batting, the balls that Krunal bowled slow, it was gripping a little bit. So, we thought we might take a chance. They are far ahead in the game. If we get a couple of wickets in this over, might bring us back in the game,” he remarked.
While appreciating Sudharsan for his century, Gill said that he hoped he got to play a few more balls in the powerplay in coming games. In the first six overs against RCB, Gill faced just seven balls as Sudharsan dominated strike, scoring 46 off 29 balls.
“Yeah, I mean, he was quite upset with the way he got in the previous couple of matches. But I think he covered up well. But in the next match, hopefully, he gives me a little bit more strike in the powerplay,” Gill concluded.