RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara praises star India batter for game-changing innings against GT

Kumar Sangakkara (Image credit: Twitter)

Rajasthan Royals avenged their humiliation in previous year's final by defeating the defending champions Gujarat Titans by three wickets in a thrilling 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing a target of 178, Royals looked like they might collapse for a low score at one point, but fortune was on their side as they pulled off an incredible victory in the final over on Sunday night.

After loosing the toss and being asked to bat first, Titans posted a decent total of 177/7 in 20 overs. Shubman Gill scored 45 runs off 34 balls and gave the team a good start. Skipper Hardik Pandya played a short cameo, scoring 28 off 19 balls to ensure a safe platform for the team. However, it was David Miller (46 off 30) and Abhinav Manohar (27 off 13), who paced the innings and guided GT to a comfortable total to defend.

In reply, RR got off to a poor start as they lost the in-form openers Jos Buttler and Yashaswi Jaiswal within three overs. The visitors were four wickets down for 55 runs in the 11th over, and a comeback appeared unlikely. However, two match-winning knocks from their skipper Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer allowed them record their fourth win of the tournament.

That was the game changer: Sangakkara on Samson's brilliant innings

Samson was the real game changer of the match as he played an aggressive innings to bring RR back into the game. He turned the tables in the 13th over by hitting GT star spinner Rashid Khan for three consecutive sixes.

Speaking after the match in the dressing room, RR head coach Kumar Sangakkara praised Samson's incredible counter-attacking innings.

"Skipper, you not just got us through the powerplay but that Rashid Khan over, and then you kicked on from there, that was the game changer. Their best bowler, some say the best T20 spinner in the world, was completely caught off-guard. It just goes to show that when you’re in the game, anything is possible. Whether it’s Rashid Khan, Shane Warne, or Muralitharan. It doesn’t matter when we are in the game. We play the ball, not the man. Brilliantly done", he said.

Samson departed after slamming 60 runs off 32 balls with six maximums and three fours, leaving Hetmyer to take on the rest of the load. The West Indian did his job perfectly, scoring 56 runs off just 26 balls and ending the game with a six off the second ball of the last over.

With this win, Royals retained the top spot in the points table with 8 points. Meanwhile, GT remains at the third position. RR will next face Lucknow Super Giants in Match 26, in Jaipur.