IPL 2022, GT vs RCB: David Miller and Rahul Tewatia guide Gujarat Titans at home against Royal Challengers Bangalore | Cricket News

Left-handers Rahul Tewatia (43*) and David Miller (39*) regularly establish themselves as two of the most reliable finishers in this edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Against Chennai Super Kings, it was Miller’s unbeaten 94 plus Rashid Khan’s innings that carried Gujarat Titans to victory in the final over.
On Saturday against Royal Challengers Bangalore at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium, the duo’s 79-run 40-ball partnership once again bailed the Titans out of a mid-game slump to register a six-wicket triumph. Their finish eclipsed former India captain Virat Kohli’s return to form by half a century.

Titans fly-half Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill had given the team a calm start to the pursuit of 171. Their departure in quick succession, followed by the sacking of captain Hardik Pandya, sent the team back. Sai Sudarshan also lost his wicket before Tewatia and Miller took matters into their own hands.

Earlier, Virat Kohli was finally back among the runs. The authoritative front foot thrust was back; the ground line was also exposed; the wrist flick at the mid-wicket boundary was a sight to behold. Kohli’s 53-ball, 58-run hit and his 99-run partnership with Rajat Patidar, who hit a 32-ball 52, helped the Challengers reach a competitive 170/6 in 20 overs.

This, after RCB captain Faf du Plessis called correctly and decided to strike first. The former South African captain was unable to produce the form he managed in the first half of the tournament and was caught by Wriddhiman Saha for naught on a Pradeep Sangwan delivery that ran through him. Delhi’s left-arm pacer, playing his first game for the Titans, was at his best, grabbing two wickets and conceding just 19 runs.

The pre-match conversation, however, was about Kohli’s lack of points. He stifled debate with an inning that oozed class but lacked the momentum the Challengers badly needed. Credit then goes to 28-year-old MP drummer Patidar, who took the pressure off him by finding the limits at regular intervals.

After being beaten by a striker from Mohammad Shami on the second ball of the game, Kohli produced a straight and elegant drive in the middle of the game before whipping the ball from his legs to launch with two limits in the opening. West Indian Alzarri Joseph was also met by Kohli with two mark limits before Lockie Ferguson bogged him down with his length deliveries.