Ahmedabad, May 2 – Shubman Gill and Jos Buttler lit up the Narendra Modi Stadium with a stunning batting show as Gujarat Titans piled on a daunting 224/6 in their allotted 20 overs against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the 51st match of IPL 2025. After opting to bowl first, SRH were left chasing shadows as Gill and Buttler stitched together a dazzling 112-run partnership that set the tone for the Titans’ innings.
Skipper Shubman Gill led from the front with a whirlwind 76 off just 38 deliveries, smashing 10 boundaries and 2 sixes. The highlight of his innings was his impeccable timing and placement, effortlessly finding the gaps and keeping the scoreboard ticking at an electrifying pace. Gill was eventually run out in the 13th over, but by then, the damage had already been inflicted.
Opening alongside him, young Sai Sudharsan made a brisk 48 off 23 balls, attacking from the get-go and smashing 9 boundaries. His innings ensured the Titans got a flying start, racing past 80 inside the powerplay. Sudharsan’s cameo ended in the seventh over when he mistimed a shot off Zeeshan Ansari and was caught by Klaasen.
Jos Buttler, the English wicketkeeper-batsman, took over the charge after Sudharsan’s dismissal and entertained the Ahmedabad crowd with a powerful 64 off 37 balls, decorated with 4 towering sixes and 3 fours. Buttler’s aggression in the middle overs ensured the momentum never dipped for the Titans.
Despite a late wobble with wickets falling in the final two overs, including Washington Sundar (21 off 16), Rahul Tewatia (6), and Rashid Khan (0), the Titans crossed the 220-mark comfortably. Jaydev Unadkat emerged as the most successful bowler for SRH, claiming 3 wickets for 35 runs in his full quota, including the prized scalp of Washington Sundar.
The rest of the SRH bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with Mohammed Shami having an off day, leaking 48 runs in his 3 overs. Pat Cummins and Zeeshan Ansari picked up a wicket each but failed to stem the run-rate. Harshal Patel also remained wicketless and expensive, conceding 41 in just 3 overs.
Gujarat Titans’ innings ended with a flourish, and they’ll now look to defend the massive total on a pitch that has shown true bounce and carry for the batters. Sunrisers Hyderabad will need something extraordinary from their top order to pull off this chase.
With this game potentially influencing playoff positions, all eyes are now on the second innings. Can SRH pull off a record chase, or will Titans’ bowling unit step up to defend their monumental total?
