Gill, Buttler hit fifties; Gujarat score 209/4 against Rajasthan

Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a classy 50-ball-84 and Jos Buttler too hit a half-century to help Gujarat Titans (GT) post 209 for 4 against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in an IPL 2025 match in Jaipur on Monday (April 28).

The GT opening batter scored his fourth half-century of the season with the help of five fours and four sixes, adding 93 for the opening stand with an in-form Sai Sudharsan (39 off 30 balls).

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GT were ready to capitalise on a solid platform laid by the duo, and Buttler (50 not out off 26 balls) made a mincemeat of RR's ordinary bowling attack from thereon, smashing four sixes apart from three boundaries.

Buttler's reverse pulls

Buttler executed reverse pulls and ramps at will while using the pace of deliveries to punish his former team RR.

Gill picked the shorter boundary on the leg-side and the RR bowlers were guilty of drifting towards his pads. There were pick-up pulls – one over square leg and one over wide of mid-on – but the flicked maximum off Yudhvir Singh stood out.

There was also a perfect off-drive, and his opening partner Sudharsan was more than happy to give his skipper the bulk of the strike. Once Sudharsan was dismissed, the dangerous Buttler piled up further misery with a 24-run over off Wanindu Hasaranga, which included three sixes and a boundary.

RR spinners fail

Jofra Archer (1/49) has been good in patches, but the main issue has been the two Sri Lankan spinners Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekhsana, who have not delivered on expected lines.

Hasaranga, though, has been better. Theekshana bowled too many loose balls for his comfort. On the night, the duo gave away 74 runs collectively in eight overs and never looked like troubling GT opening pair.

Gill looked set for his fifth IPL hundred but holed out in the deep off Theekshana. However, Buttler, in company of Washington Sundar and Rahul Tewatia, took GT past the 200-run mark.