Titans trample DC as Sudharsan-Gill blitz seals playoffs berth

A commanding 10-wicket win powered Gujarat Titans to the Playoffs of IPL 2025, and as a consequence also ensured the qualification of both Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Punjab Kings to the next stage. Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill crowned their dream season as a batting pair with an emphatic unbeaten 205-run opening stand that made light work of the chase of 199. Their dominant partnership overshadowed a valiant 112 from KL Rahul which went in vain.

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Where was the game won?

The PowerPlay batting proved to be a crucial differentiating factor between the two teams. While Delhi Capitals started the phase slowly before finishing with a bang, GT went the opposite way scoring the bulk of their 59 runs inside the first three overs. Their 43 in the first three overs was nearly DC's full tally through the phase. And doing so in a chase ensured that the Titans were on the front foot right away, adding to the pressure on the bowlers to follow. Sudharsan and Gill together did what Rahul managed as a lone warrior for DC, doubling the Titans' advantage and tilting the game decisively.

DELHI CAPITALS

Powerplay - Rahul holds fort for DC

All the boundaries that Delhi Capitals managed inside the PowerPlay came from KL Rahul, who was back to opening the innings. He also accounted for 36 of the 45 that DC scored in this phase. For a major part of this phase, Gujarat Titans' bowlers dominated with only 28 coming in the first five overs. Arshad Khan had also got rid of Faf du Plessis in this period having him caught at mid on. Rahul got going with a couple of boundaries off Mohammad Siraj in the fifth over. But he broke loose in the sixth over bowled by Kagiso Rabada, hitting the pacer for two sixes and a four in a 17-run over. It helped offset an otherwise slow start from DC but not enough to help them pull away decisively. Nevertheless, it was a much-needed upsurge for the home team.

Middle Overs - Porel, Rahul lift DC