Hardik Pandya led from the front by scoring a swashbuckling unbeaten 87 as the Gujarat Titans defeated the Rajasthan Royals by 37 runs at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
After being put into bat by RR skipper, opener Matthew Wade got GT off to a confident start by smashing James Neesham for three boundaries in his opening over. However he was run out by a brilliant direct hit by Rassie van der Dussen for 12.
Vijay Shankar fell cheaply, edging a wide delivery from Kuldeep Sen to Sanju Samson behind the stumps.
Gill along with Hardik featured in a 38 run stand for the third wicket before the former (13) was dismissed by Riyan Parag, caught at long on by Shimron Hetmyer.
GT skipper was involved in yet another valuable 86 run stand for the fourth wicket alongside Abhinav Manohar before Yuzvendra Chahal broke the partnership by dismissing the latter caught at short fine leg by Ravi Ashwin for a 28 ball-43.
David Miller came in and smashed a breezy 31 to take Gujarat Titans to 192/4 in 20 overs. All rounder Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 87.
Chasing 193, Jos Buttler started brilliantly by Mohammed Shami for three consecutive fours, followed by 2 fours and a six off Yash Dayal in the next over.
However the left arm pacer redeemed himself by dismissing Devdutt Padikkal, caught at slip by Shubman Gill for a first ball duck.
Royals move to promote Ravichandran Ashwin to No 3 failed as the pinch hitter was caught brilliantly at overs by David Miller off Lockie Ferguson for 8.
Buttler reached his fifty off just 23-balls by scooping the Kiwi pacer over fine leg for a maximum. However the Gujarat pacer castled the England wicket keeper off the very next delivery with a superb yorker.
Sanju Samson and Rassie van der Dussen fell cheaply, as the Rajasthan Royals lost half their side for 90.
Shimron Hetmyer looked good for a brief while before holding out to long on by Rahul Tewatia off Shami for a 17 ball-29.
Ferguson claimed his third wicket by dismissing Riyan Parag (18), dragging a full toss to Shubman Gill at long on.
The rest of the RR batsman faltered, as they finished at 155/9 in their allotted 20 overs. With this victory the Titans are now at the top of the table in IPL 2022.
Hardik Pandya was adjudged the Man of the Match for his impressive knock.
Gujarat Titans 192 for 4 (Pandya 87*, Manohar 43, Parag 1-12) beat Rajasthan Royals 155 for 9 (Buttler 54, Hetmyer 29, Lockie Ferguson 3-23, Dayal 3-40) by 37 runs