After a slow start to the season, Gujarat Titans are coming into their own just when it matters. Following their eight-wicket win against Chennai Super Kings on Sunday, the former champions produced a sharp all-round performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday to beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by four wickets.After restricting the defending champions to 155 with a disciplined bowling effort, GT crossed the line in 15.5 overs, though not without a bit of huffing and puffing. Captain Shubman Gill (43 off 18 balls) set the tone, taking on Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood early with his trademark punches and pulls. RCB fought back through Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who removed prolific openers B Sai Sudharsan and Gill in the Powerplay. Bhuvneshwar (3/28) also accounted for Jos Buttler (39), while the dismissals of Washington Sundar and Shahrukh Khan added a bit of pressure. But Rahul Tewatia (27*) and Rashid Khan (7*) ensured the lower middle-order did enough to take GT to their fifth win and keep them in touch with the leading pack.Earlier, RCB began the contest like a team possessed, before sharp catching and disciplined bowling by the hosts helped them bowl out the visitors for 155. After Virat Kohli (28) began in imperious fashion, hitting new-ball bowler Kagiso Rabada for five boundaries in the second over, Rabada’s new-ball partner Mohammed Siraj had left-hander Jacob Bethell (5) caught by Rashid Khan at short midwicket.Gill’s decision to persist with Rabada, who leaked 21 runs in his opening over, reaped rewards as Kohli’s bid to dominate the South African was undone by a zippy short ball that cramped him. The batter’s attempted pull barely cleared the 30-yard circle, where Rashid completed a sliding catch. RCB were 39/2 after four overs. Captain Rajat Patidar then joined Devdutt Padikkal (40), and the pair took RCB to 59/2 by the end of the Powerplay.Their 44-run partnership came to an end when Patidar’s pick-up shot was held by a diving Jason Holder off left-arm seamer Arshad Khan (3/22). RCB then slid from 79/3 to 96/6 in the space of 17 balls. Though Romario Shepherd (17) and Padikkal tried to salvage the innings, the latter was bowled by Rashid (2/19) off an inside edge, ending their 30-run stand.
