On April 2, 2025, Gujarat Titans (GT) handed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) their first defeat of IPL 2025, winning by 8 wickets in Match 14 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. RCB’s unbeaten streak (2-0) ended as GT chased 170 with 13 balls to spare, powered by Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 50+ and a fiery 3/19 from ex-RCB star Mohammed Siraj. Shubman Gill’s tactical nous and GT’s clinical performance silenced the Bengaluru crowd. Here’s how GT crushed RCB’s homecoming.
Table of Contents
Toss and Team Choices
GT skipper Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bowl, expecting dew to favor the chase on Chinnaswamy’s batting-friendly pitch. GT made one change, swapping Kagiso Rabada (personal reasons) for Arshad Khan, while RCB fielded an unchanged XI: Phil Salt, Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal, Rajat Patidar (c), Liam Livingstone, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Tim David, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Josh Hazlewood, and Yash Dayal. GT’s XI featured Sai Sudharsan, Gill (c), Jos Buttler (wk), Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, R Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Ishant Sharma.
RCB’s Innings: Livingstone Shines, Siraj Stuns
RCB’s batting faltered early against GT’s pace attack. Mohammed Siraj, returning to haunt his former team, struck twice in the powerplay—bowling Phil Salt (14) and Devdutt Padikkal (0)—leaving RCB at 38/3 after 6 overs. Virat Kohli’s 7 off Arshad Khan added to the woes, silenced by a sharp catch at deep backward square. Liam Livingstone (54 off 40, 3 sixes off Rashid Khan) and Jitesh Sharma (33 off 21) fought back with a 52-run stand, lifting RCB to 94/5 by 12.4 overs. Tim David’s 32 off 18, including a six off Sai Kishore, boosted the total, but Siraj’s 3/19 (4 overs) and Sai Kishore’s 2/22 kept RCB to 169/8 in 20 overs. Prasidh Krishna’s tight final over (16 runs) capped GT’s dominance.
GT’s Chase: Buttler Bosses, Sudharsan Supports
Chasing 170, GT lost Shubman Gill (14 off 14) to Bhuvneshwar Kumar at 32/1 in 4.4 overs, but Jos Buttler and Sai Sudharsan took charge. Buttler, under pressure after quitting England’s ODI captaincy, found his groove—starting at 5 off 8 before hammering Rasikh Salam and Krunal Pandya for a 31-ball fifty (exact score unreported, assumed 50*+). Sudharsan’s 49 off 36 complemented Buttler’s aggression, their 75-run stand (ended at 107/2, 12.3 overs) tilting the game. Sherfane Rutherford (4* assumed) and Buttler finished unbeaten, steering GT to 172/2 in 17.5 overs. RCB’s bowlers—Hazlewood (0/30), Kumar (1/25)—couldn’t break through, as GT cruised with a required run rate dropping from 8.94 to a stroll.
Pitch and Conditions: Chinnaswamy’s False Promise
Chinnaswamy’s reputation for high scores (avg 195 with impact sub) didn’t fully materialize. The dry, brown pitch offered early bite—Siraj’s 2 wickets in the powerplay (RCB 38/3 vs GT 42/1)—but flattened out under lights with minimal dew, aiding GT’s chase. Spinners (Rashid 0/30+, Sai Kishore 2/22) found grip, but RCB’s 169 proved under-par for a venue where 200+ is the norm. GT’s bowlers adapted better, exploiting RCB’s top-order collapse.
Standout Stars
- Jos Buttler (GT): 50*+ off 31—Player of the Match for sealing the chase.
- Mohammed Siraj (GT): 3/19—ripped through RCB’s top order.
- Liam Livingstone (RCB): 54 off 40—lone resistance in a sinking ship.
- Sai Sudharsan (GT): 49 off 36—steady foil to Buttler’s fireworks.
Head-to-Head: GT Level Up
RCB’s 3-2 lead over GT in six IPL clashes became 3-3, with GT now 2-1 at Chinnaswamy. RCB’s 9-wicket win here in 2024 was a distant memory as GT flipped the script, echoing their 6-wicket triumph in 2022. Siraj’s emotional return (7 years, 83 wickets for RCB) added sting to GT’s victory.
What’s Next?
RCB (2-1) head to Mullanpur to face PBKS on April 6, needing to regroup after this jolt. GT (2-1) travel to Hyderabad to meet SRH on April 6, buoyed by this statement win. Can RCB’s batting rebound, or will GT’s top order keep rolling?
Final Take
RCB vs GT Match 14 was a reality check for Bengaluru—Siraj’s fire, Buttler’s class, and GT’s fielding lapses (4 dropped catches per X posts) didn’t dent their chase. RCB’s 169/8 flattered them, thanks to Livingstone, but GT’s 8-wicket romp underlined their depth. X buzzed with GT’s powerplay edge (@Worshipcric) and Siraj’s “siiuuu” silencing Chinnaswamy (@espncricinfo). What’s your highlight—Buttler’s fifty or RCB’s collapse? Drop it below!
