In a stunning display of skill and composure, Gujarat Titans handed Royal Challengers Bengaluru their first loss of the Indian Premier League season on Wednesday at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium. The Titans sealed an emphatic eight-wicket victory, driven by a fiery three-wicket spell from pace bowler Mohammed Siraj and a scintillating unbeaten 73 from Jos Buttler, who turned the chase into a masterclass of aggressive batting.
Bengaluru, batting first, posted a competitive 169-8 in their 20 overs, largely thanks to Liam Livingstone’s gritty 54 and a late cameo from Tim David (32 off 18). However, Gujarat’s bowlers, led by Siraj’s 3-19, ensured the home side never fully seized control. The Titans’ chase was a blend of patience and power, as they reached the target with 13 balls to spare, finishing at 170-2.
The match began with a moment of drama when Gujarat’s Jos Buttler, stationed behind the stumps, dropped Phil Salt off the very first over. Undeterred, the Titans struck back swiftly. Arshad Khan dismissed Bengaluru’s linchpin, Virat Kohli, for just seven in the second over, caught in the deep after mistiming a lofted shot. Siraj then took center stage, removing Devdutt Padikkal and Salt in quick succession, before Ishant Sharma compounded Bengaluru’s woes by trapping skipper Rajat Patidar lbw for 12. At 42-4 in the seventh over, the home side appeared rattled.
Livingstone, however, refused to surrender. Dropped on nine and surviving a close lbw shout, the Englishman counterattacked alongside Jitesh Sharma, who blazed 33 off 21 balls. Their 52-run fifth-wicket stand revived Bengaluru’s hopes, and Livingstone’s assault on Rashid Khan—smashing three towering sixes in the 18th over—brought up his fifty. But Siraj returned to end Livingstone’s resistance, inducing an edge to the keeper, while David’s late flourish ensured Bengaluru had something to defend.
Chasing 170, Gujarat’s openers laid a solid foundation. Sai Sudharsan’s measured 49 provided stability, while Buttler, after a lean patch in recent months, rediscovered his flair. The England star reached his fifty with a towering six off Livingstone in the 15th over and unleashed a barrage of audacious strokes—scoops, lofted drives, and powerful slogs—to finish unbeaten on 73 off 39 balls. Impact player Sherfane Rutherford played the perfect foil, contributing an unbeaten 30 to seal the deal.
“It was a clinical performance,” Buttler said post-match. “The bowlers set the tone brilliantly. I dropped a catch early, and if I’d held it, we might’ve chased even fewer. But Sai played sensibly to take the sting out of their attack, and I just wanted to play with freedom. After some tough months, it feels great to contribute.”
For Siraj, the victory carried extra weight. Having spent seven years with Bengaluru before being released ahead of the auction, the pacer admitted to pre-match nerves. “It was emotional coming back here,” he said. “But once I had the ball, it was all intensity. Belief is everything for a bowler, and I backed myself to deliver, no matter the ground or the team.”
Bengaluru’s defeat exposed early cracks in their campaign, with their top order faltering under pressure. Gujarat, meanwhile, showcased their depth and adaptability, with Siraj’s hostility and Buttler’s brilliance proving decisive. As the Titans celebrated a well-earned triumph, Bengaluru were left to regroup ahead of their next challenge.
This result signals Gujarat’s intent to reclaim their status as IPL heavyweights, while Bengaluru will need to address their batting frailties to bounce back. For now, the Titans reign supreme, their eight-wicket win a statement of dominance in a season already brimming with excitement.
