Gujarat Titans humiliated the Sunrisers Hyderabad by seven wickets in their IPL cricket game at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Sunday. Mohammed Siraj’s 4/17 rampage and Shubman Gill’s peaceful 61 not out were the pick of the bunch in a contest that showed SRH’s ongoing misery. Continue reading the blog by Spinmatch sports desk experts on the Spinmatch IPL match highlights of yesterday’s game.
Siraj Breathes Fire with the Ball
The evening belonged to Mohammed Siraj, who produced a bowling clinic that will be remembered long after this match. The right-arm pacer was simply unplayable, claiming four wickets for just 17 runs in his four-over spell. His spell also helped him reach his 100th IPL wicket – a milestone in his T20 career.
Siraj started his demolition in the initial over, dismissing the dangerous Travis Head for just 8 runs. While he was bowling, he never deviated from an impeccable line and length, disturbing the SRH batsmen with late movement outside the pitch along with correct changes in speed.
As he came back for the last over in the death, Siraj mopped up both Aniket Verma (18) and Simarjeet Singh (0) in the 19th over, pretty much dashing any chance of a late SRH surge. His line and length control was top-notch, leaving batsmen with very little leeway to unfurl their arms.
GT’s Bowling Unit Shows Class
While Siraj dominated the headlines, the rest of the GT bowling attack also played their role to perfection. R Sai Kishore was superb with a comeback of 2/24, removing the crucial wickets of Heinrich Klaasen (27) and Nitish Reddy (31) when they were looking to get out of hand.
Prasidh Krishna contributed his 2/25, claiming the key wicket of Ishan Kishan (17). The overall bowling performance kept SRH on their toes throughout, restricting them to a modest 152/8 in 20 overs.
Rashid Khan, even though wicketless, maintained his end tight through economical bowling and finished with 0/31 from his four overs. The bowling effort reflected GT’s planning prowess and perfect execution of plans against the troubled SRH batting lineup.
SRH’s Batting Woes Continue
Sunrisers Hyderabad, who had opened the tournament on a record 286 in their opening game, were completely misplaced against the GT bowling side. Their highly-lauded batting lineup did not ignite once again, with not a single player able to convert starts into decent scores.
Nitish Kumar Reddy top-scored with a modest 31 runs, while Heinrich Klaasen added 27. However, both lacked the acceleration that was required when it mattered most, and their respective dismissals at key times further undermined SRH’s hopes of setting a competitive total.
Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma, who had previously been in explosive touch in the tournament, could not make decisive impacts. Ishan Kishan gave hints of promise in brief moments to the tune of 17 runs but could not capitalise on his start.
This was SRH’s fourth below-par batting effort after their tournament opener, and it raised serious doubts about their team composition and strategy.
Gill & Sundar Steady the Ship
In pursuit of a target of 153 to emerge victorious, GT lost Sai Sudharsan (5) and Jos Buttler (0), with only 16 runs on the board. Mohammed Shami and Pat Cummins gave SRH hope by removing both openers at a bargain price.
But captain Shubman Gill took control of the match with a cautious but effective batting display. Gill established the innings, scoring 61 not out off 43 balls, showing his class with impeccably timed boundaries and astute running between wickets.
The real game-changer in the chase was Washington Sundar, who, on his GT debut, scored a counter-attacking 49 off 29 balls. His aggressive batting changed the momentum of the game in favor of GT as he contributed to a crucial 90-run partnership with Gill that took the game away from SRH.
Sundar’s knock saw him score several boundaries off the SRH bowlers, particularly taking on Simarjeet Singh in a 20-run over, which completely changed the run chase’s complexion. His innings set the perfect platform for GT’s victory.
Rutherford Provides the Finishing Touch
Following Sundar’s collapse, taken by Aniket Verma off Shami’s bowling for 49, impact substitute Sherfane Rutherford came in and played a blistering cameo. His 35, not out off just 16 deliveries, with four boundaries in an over off Abhishek Sharma, helped GT reach the finish with 3.2 overs left.
Rutherford’s untainted batting with minimal pressure revealed GT’s batting depth and their ability to gear up whenever necessary. His attacking intent rendered SRH without a chance of a comeback in the game, even after Sundar’s fall.
Defining Moments of the Match
The turning point of the IPL match was in the form of many defining moments that determined the course of the match:
Siraj, dismissing Travis Head early in the game, set the tone for GT’s supremacy and crushed SRH’s confidence at the very start. The removal of Klaasen and Reddy by Sai Kishore at the moment when they were looking to gain momentum deprived SRH of a challenging total.
GT was in trouble at 16/2, but the 90-run partnership between Gill and Sundar turned the game on its head. Sundar’s attacking strategy, in particular, left SRH on the back foot.
Washington Sundar’s carnage against Simarjeet Singh yielded 20 runs off an over, turning the game decisively in GT’s favor and effectively closing the contest.
Rutherford’s pyrotechnics against Abhishek Sharma, amassing 18 runs off an over, dispelled any remaining uncertainty about the result.
Impact on Tournament Standings
With this commanding victory, the Gujarat Titans moved up to second place on the points table, having accumulated six points from four matches (three wins and one loss). Additionally, their net run rate benefited significantly from such a large victory margin.
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, it was their fourth consecutive loss since they won the first game against Rajasthan Royals. SRH are currently at the bottom of the table, and playoff hopes are already fading in the early stages of the tournament.
Tale of Two Captains
Captain Shubman Gill played an unperturbed and composed unbeaten 61 off 43 balls for the Gujarat Titans. His knock was characterized by excellent shot selection and composed calmness in a crisis. Gill reached his fifty in 36 balls and remained not out until the end, showing maturity in advance.
It was SRH captain Pat Cummins’s disappointing day, both as a bowling and leadership performance. Even though he dismissed Jos Buttler, he could not curb the runs during the middle overs. His strategic decisions, particularly his field setting and bowling changes, proved to be non-beneficial as GT dominated the middle phase of the match.
Team Strengths and Weaknesses Exposed
Gujarat Titans showed why they are one of the most well-rounded teams in the tournament. Their pace unit is deep and varied, led by Siraj and supported by Rashid Khan with middle-over control. Their batting unit proved to be game, despite early losses, as various players emerged.
In Sunrisers Hyderabad’s case, glaring loopholes have been exposed in their strategy.
The ultra-aggressive batting approach that worked in their opening game has repeatedly failed them since then. Their bowling attack is unpredictable, with even experienced internationals like Cummins and Shami being unable to deliver the difference.
Looking Ahead
Gujarat Titans will draw a lot of confidence from this all-round performance. Their bowling looks solid, and their batting depth suggests that they are not over-dependent on one or two star players only. Washington Sundar’s addition has added a new dimension to their team.
Looking Ahead
For Sunrisers Hyderabad, there must be a radical rethink of their strategy for the future. Their strategy is not producing results currently, and they may have to think through personnel changes in order to turn their fortunes around. The pressure is increasing on Captain Cummins to come up with solutions fast.
Final Analysis
The IPL live match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Gujarat Titans turned out to be a one-sided affair, with GT demonstrating their supremacy after weathering the initial storm in their pursuit. Siraj’s bowling masterclass set the stage for the victory, while Gill’s composed batting ensured there were no bumps in the pursuit.
SRH’s fourth consecutive loss has left them in a precarious position. Their aggressive approach, which was so effective in the first game, now looks like a one-trick pony, and opposing teams have figured out the solution to counter it.
With IPL 2025 approaching its mid-point, the Gujarat Titans have firmly placed themselves among the strongest playoff contenders based on their well-balanced team performance, while Sunrisers Hyderabad have a tall mountain to climb to salvage their season after this crushing defeat.
The contrast between the two teams could not be starker – GT showing flexibility and composure, while SRH appear to be in a state of tactical nadir with Plan B nowhere on the horizon. This match also well demonstrated the way fortunes are turned around overnight in the IPL cricket game, with SRH going from record-breakers to basement-timers within the course of just a few games. Stay tuned with Spinmatch365 for more such detailed match dissections and game highlights. Follow our WhatsApp channel to get IPL fantasy cricket tips.
