Ajinkya Rahane’s well-fought innings came to an abrupt end thanks to Washington Sundar’s clever bowling and Jos Buttler’s sharp wicketkeeping in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Gujarat Titans on April 21.
Washington Sundar catches Ajinkya Rahane off guard with a crafty delivery
Chasing 199, KKR’s reply faltered from the outset. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was trapped lbw by Mohammed Siraj in the opening over, leaving KKR on the back foot almost immediately. Sunil Narine and Rahane attempted to rebuild, but wickets continued to tumble regularly. Amidst this, Rahane stood tall, compiling a fluent 50 off 36 balls and keeping KKR’s hopes flickering.
However, the match’s defining moment arrived in the 13th over. On the 4th ball, Sundar bowled a delivery that was pitched wide and quick outside off, and Rahane, looking to go for the big shot, jumped out of his crease. Sundar cleverly bowled it wide, and Rahane’s attempt to chase it failed. As Rahane failed to make contact and tried to come back into the crease, Buttler was quick behind the stumps, whipping off the bails to complete a sharp stumping. Rahane, who had anchored KKR’s chase with a steady 50 from 36 balls (5 fours and 1 six), was sent back to the pavilion, leaving KKR at 91/4.
Here’s the video:
Also READ: IPL 2025: Danny Morrison teases Shubman Gill with ‘marriage’ comment during KKR vs GT clash
KKR’s sudden collapse against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2025 chase
From there, KKR’s chase unraveled. The middle and lower order failed to build meaningful partnerships as Rashid Khan and Prasidh Krishna struck at crucial junctures. Despite a late flourish from Angkrish Raghuvanshi (27 not out off 13), KKR limped to 159/8 in their 20 overs, falling well short by 39 runs. GT’s disciplined bowling and sharp fielding ensured they maintained their top spot in the standings, while KKR were left to rue another stuttering chase and a moment of Sundar-inspired magic that changed the game’s complexion.
Earlier, GT’s openers, Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan, got off to a flying start, racing to 50 inside the powerplay and putting the KKR attack under immediate pressure. The pair stitched together a 114-run opening stand, with Sudharsan bringing up a brisk 52 off 36 balls before falling to Andre Russell. Gill, meanwhile, anchored the innings with a masterful 90 off 55 balls, peppering the boundary with 10 fours and 3 sixes, before being dismissed in the 18th over. Jos Buttler capitalized on the platform, hammering an unbeaten 41 off just 23 deliveries, ensuring GT finished with a daunting 198/3 from their 20 overs. KKR’s bowlers struggled to contain the flow of runs, with only Harshit Rana, Vaibhav Arora, and Russell picking up a wicket apiece.
Also WATCH: Rinku Singh pulls off a breathtaking catch to remove Shubman Gill for 90 during KKR vs GT clash
