Stand-in Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Rashid Khan attributed their 6-run loss to Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a middle-order batting collapse, admitting they lost crucial momentum in the 12th-13th overs.
Despite a good start provided by Sai Sudharsan (73 off 44), the Titans couldn't chase 211, prompting Rashid to praise Jofra Archer and Tushar Deshpande’s execution in the death overs for RR.
Rashid also commended his bowlers for restricting RR to 210, an achievable target on that flat Ahmedabad wicket.
“Well, I think, we bowled really well, especially the way they have started to restrict them under like, 210. I think it was a great effort on this wicket by the bowlers. And then we started really well with the bat as well. I felt we have given a great start with the openers. And then I felt in the 12th and 13th overs, we lost back-to-back wickets. That's something which really put us on the back foot. But I think, if they were there, it wasn't that hard to score, but I think in that period of time, we just lost the momentum of the game,” Rashid said at the post-match presentation.
“Well, I feel, on the wicket like this, 9-10 per over, it's not that the hard job to be done. And I feel like we just, a little bit like you lose the momentum at that time to go harder and to keep it little bit for a longer period of time. And the boundaries were coming. I think on this wicket, boundaries were coming easily. And, but I think we just lost a few early quick wickets in that period of time, which just didn't allow us to go on and keep the momentum till the end,” he added.
Rashid Khan stressed the need to learn from mistakes early in the long tournament and come back stronger.
“(On regrouping) Well, everyone have their own gameplan and they know the condition and situation really well. And then just to make sure that, you read the condition and the requirement of the game. Everything is written on the board. I feel like that makes the job pretty much easier, but it's too early, it's still in the competition. We learn from our mistakes, what we do and we keep getting better and come back stronger in the next game,” he remarked.
While RR leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi triggered a collapse with four wickets in the middle overs, reducing GT to 161/7, Archer and Deshpande bowled exceptionally well in the last two overs to defend 15 runs.
RR skipper Riyan Parag gave the ball to Archer in the penultimate over, which went for just 4 runs and left GT needing 11 runs from the last 6 balls.
Entrusted with the final over, Deshpande nailed four consecutive yorkers to Rashid. Despite starting with a wide, he conceded only 4 runs and dismissed the GT captain—caught by Archer in the deep—to seal the win.
“(On the chat in the last over) Well, the discussion was clear, like, we just need to hit one boundary. And I feel like if we get there, I think we don't need much of the boundaries in that over. And I think Tushar bowled really well. He bowled some exceptional yorkers. Which didn't allow us to go on, but I feel that the one ball which he missed his line and length, I should have hit that for six. Like, you just need to stay calm and it's gonna be a long tournament and we learn from it and we come back stronger,” Rashid said.
He signed off by providing an update on regular skipper Shubman Gill, who was forced to sit out of the match due to a muscle spasm.
“(On Gill) He's good. Hopefully he's gonna be alright for the next game. He just had the muscle spasm, so hopefully he's gonna be alright soon,” Rashid concluded.
