The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad witnessed a nail-biting match on April 9, 2025, when Rajasthan Royals (RR) fought Gujarat Titans (GT) in the 23rd game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. It was a treat of excellent cricketing talents, and Sai Sudharsan and Prasidh Krishna stole the show. Their performances not only earned an eye-catching 58-run win for GT but also put them atop the IPL standings table.
Sai Sudharsan’s Masterclass Batting
Caption is in the image! 😎 pic.twitter.com/BbNM48Risl
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 9, 2025
Opting to bat on a red soil pitch, Gujarat Titans had to do some early spadework when Jofra Archer sent skipper Shubman Gill packing with a searing ball. But young left-hander Sai Sudharsan was up to the task. Firmly holding an attractive mix of old-school and contemporary cricket shots, Sudharsan served the cause a flawless 82 off 53 deliveries. The eight boundaries and three huge sixes in his innings set up the team at the doorstep of a hefty total.
Sudharsan’s partnerships were turning points for GT’s innings. He shared an 80-run partnership with Jos Buttler, who hit a 36 off 25 balls. Shahrukh Khan also joined the party, scoring 36 off 20 balls. These partnerships assisted GT in maintaining a quick-scoring rate throughout the innings.
The final overs saw Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan playing cameos that added vital runs to the tally. GT ended their innings at a robust 217/6, which posed RR a mountainous challenge to surmount.
Rajasthan Royals Response
Chasing 218, Rajasthan Royals required a positive beginning, but GT bowlers had other ideas. Mohammed Siraj and Arshad Khan opened their shoulders in the initial stage, dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana, respectively. Although skipper Sanju Samson (41 from 28 balls) and Shimron Hetmyer (52 from 32 balls) gave everything they had, RR were not in a position to gain momentum.
The match-turning moment was the inclusion of Prasidh Krishna in the bowling attack. His bowled deliveries and trailblazing changes were too strong for RR’s batsmen. Krishna’s 3/24 spell with the game-winning wickets of Hetmyer and Jofra Archer more or less sealed the game for GT.
Prasidh Krishna’s Fiery Spell
When the oppositions start to skid away, this man comes up with ’em brakes 🤚 pic.twitter.com/M1DWssw8Ri
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 9, 2025
Prasidh Krishna’s spell was a pace-bowling masterclass. Using the red-soil wicket to good advantage, he continued to hit hard lengths and induce bounce, which made RR batsmen work hard. His mix of deliveries took the opposition up the garden path, and his wickets played a crucial role in disfiguring RR’s spine.
Krishna’s good work was complemented by R Sai Kishore and Rashid Khan, both of whom took two wickets each. The bowling effort together had RR bowled out for 159 runs from 19.2 overs well short of the target.
GT Fourth Straight Win
This win was GT’s fourth consecutive win in IPL 2025, a reflection of their league dominance. The win placed them at the top of the points table, a reflection of the domination they had brought this season. Sai Sudharsan’s consistent act this season has been a surprise package, and the fact that he can deliver even when pressure is mounting has made him one of GT’s reliable men.
Prasidh Krishna’s return as a dignified pace bowler has also been a huge confidence booster for the team. Under the mentorship of head coach Ashish Nehra, Krishna has enhanced his game and turned into a match-winner for GT.
Player of the Match – Sai Sudharsan
Sai grabbing the headlines with a POTM worthy performance! 🏅 pic.twitter.com/iU4vp2rcY9
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) April 9, 2025
Man of the Match in IPL 2025 Gujarat Titans (GT) vs Rajasthan Royals (RR) was Sai Sudharsan. His outstanding innings of 82 runs from 53 balls was a key factor in GT’s complete victory, and they were able to score a dominating total of 217/6.
GT Top on IPL Point Table 2025
With this win, GT has topped the IPL 2025 table with four victories in five games and a net run rate of +1.4136. Such league dominance is proof of their perfectly balanced team and their unshakable determination.
GT take the lead after a convincing home win ✅ pic.twitter.com/q13284BdHk
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) April 10, 2025
Conclusion
The match between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals was one of the manifestations of the uncertainty and excitement of T20 cricket. Sai Sudharsan’s batting display and Prasidh Krishna’s bowling excellence were the showpieces of the day and are entitled to every bit of praise. The further GT goes in IPL 2025, their all-round performances make them a team to watch out for.
This win wasn’t only to the liking of GT supporters, but it also raised a very high standard for the rest of the tournament. The momentum towards themselves, Gujarat Titans are highly likely to take themselves deep into the tournament, and recent performances have only made their position as title contenders even stronger.
