RCB vs GT, 14th Match at Bengaluru, IPL, Apr 02 2025 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11:22pm That will be all from us for tonight. We will be back tomorrow, nice and early as the Kolkata Knight Riders take on the Sunrisers Hyderabad in a repeat of last year's final. We hope to have your company for that as well. Until then, this is goodbye from Chandan, Thilak and myself (Shashwat). Take care, everyone!

Mohammed Siraj, Player of the Match: It was emotional because I played for seven years here (for RCB). There was some nervousness and some emotion but the moment I got the ball in my hand, it was full-on (intensity). (On his celebration) That I am here (ready for the contest), and I am a Cristiano Ronaldo fan as well. I was playing matches consistently, so was not realizing the mistakes I was making. In the break, focused on my bowling, on my fitness and when I joined GT, I spoke to Ashu bhai (Ashish Nehra) and the ball is coming out nicely now. He asked me to just enjoy myself and do whatever I wanted. I talk to them (Rabada, Ishant and other bowling partners) and get feedback which is really helpful. As a bowler, I want to always have belief - that is an important thing. If that is not there, you panic (when you get hit). I have belief that I can do well, irrespective of wherever I am playing and that is my mindset.

Shubman Gill, Gujarat Titans captain: We have seen on this ground, restricting the other team to 170, we always thought we were in the game. It is surprising, the wicket sometimes plays really good and sometimes there is something in it for the seamers with the new ball. There was something in it for the fast bowlers in the first 7-8 overs (tonight) and it was stopping. We thought if we did not give them early wickets, we would be right in the game. (On the dropped catches and how that makes him feel) You are definitely disappointed but we talk about coming back at them (the opposition), and grabbing the next opportunity. The kind of wicket it was, we batted professionally and it was a clinical chase. All about adapting to the situation - we might have a completely different wicket (in the next game) and we might have to adapt to it.

Rajat Patidar, Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain: (On what score he feels RCB should have gotten) Not 200, but we were targeting around 190. Early wickets harmed this match (for us). (What would he have done differently) Intent was good. Three wickets in the powerplay made a difference. (On if the pitch improved) Slightly better but the way our bowlers bowled was amazing. They put in hard work and it was not easy. On this ground, going to the 18th over, it was amazing to watch from the bowlers. After three wickets, the way Jitesh, Liam and Tim (batted), after three wickets fell…that was amazing to see and the positive from this match. We are very confident about our batting unit - the way they are showing intent, that is a positive sign (for us).

Jos Buttler: Really enjoyed it. Felt the bowlers did a fantastic job. If we fielded better, myself included, we would have chased less. Nice win and well deserved. (On how he dropped Salt in the opening over) I don't know, pretty embarrassed. We know Salt is a dangerous player. I barely got a glove on it and it hit me in the chest, so was determined to score some runs. As a team, we did not field well but fielded poorly. There was a bit in the wicket, so the two openers played sensibly to take the sting out of that and set up the chase. Tried to play with freedom and intent - had a few months of unenjoyable cricket, trying to give my best and excited to be here. We have got a lot of bases covered - fantastic seam-bowling unit, the spinners and a fantastic batting unit as well.

10:58pm When Buttler gets going, there is not much teams can do, and RCB found that out the hard way tonight. 170 was not a hugely daunting total, but it was enough to keep GT honest. GT, though, learnt from the RCB innings and ensured no early wickets were lost. Gill and Sudharsan were content to bide their time at the start, which laid the foundation for Buttler to then weave his magic.

Take nothing away from Sudharsan either, who kept things ticking really nicely and is becoming a fine performer at the top for the Titans. Rutherford will also not mind tonight's outing, having struck the final blow and having found the fence whenever required. In continuation of that theme, RCB struggled to pick up wickets when they needed to. The powerplay yielded just one scalp, and it went downhill rather swiftly after that, with their lack of penetration through the middle coming to the fore.

20 off 18. Still very much GT's game to lose. Can Hazlewood throw a spanner in those works? Whatever is to happen for RCB, needs to happen now

27 off 20. A couple of dot balls here, and the pressure might go up a touch. But a boundary, and that pressure will be released again

29 off 24. RCB need something special to turn this around. They do have an over of Hazlewood, and another of Bhuvneshwar. Can they conjure up something? Here's Bhuvneshwar

Plenty to ponder for RCB at this time-out. The required run-rate is not menacing and GT still have eight wickets in hand, which include that of a set Buttler and Rutherford, who has looked increasingly confident

Rajappan: "What does Philips has to do to get a game!?" -- Reckon he might be asking himself the same question in the dressing room...

Around the wicket to the left-hander

Rasikh back on. Can he turn his evening around? 36 needed off 30