New Delhi [India], April 3: Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson believes that Virat Kohli’s early dismissal was a pivotal moment in Gujarat Titans’ emphatic eight-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Mohammed Siraj’s fiery bowling performance against his former franchise further strengthened Gujarat’s dominance, earning him the well-deserved Player of the Match award.
Virat Kohli’s Dismissal: A Game-Changer
Gujarat Titans set the tone early, silencing the home crowd at Chinnaswamy Stadium with a crucial breakthrough. Arshad Khan, capitalizing on the early pressure created by Siraj, bowled a short-of-length delivery that cramped Kohli (7) for room, leading to a catch by Prasidh Krishna at deep backward square.
Reflecting on Kohli’s wicket, Williamson said on JioHotstar, “It was just an instinctive shot—one that Virat has played a million times before. He’s hit it for six plenty of times, but sometimes, that’s just how the game goes.”
Emphasizing Kohli’s impact at the venue, Williamson added, “It was a huge wicket for GT because Virat at Chinnaswamy is incredibly destructive. He has scored around 3,000 runs here and knows how to bat long and play match-winning knocks. So, getting him out early was crucial for Gujarat Titans.”
Mohammed Siraj’s Stellar Spell
Siraj wasted no time making an impact, dismissing Devdutt Padikkal and Philip Salt to leave RCB struggling at 38/3 after the powerplay. The pacer maintained his intensity even in the death overs, scalping Liam Livingstone and finishing with figures of 3/19.
Praising Siraj’s performance, Williamson said, “Siraj is familiar with the conditions at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. He bowled with real fire in his belly, led the attack with aggression, and showed excellent pace. While Jos Buttler was outstanding in the second innings, Siraj set the tone early on, making a significant impact for GT.”
Gujarat Titans’ Dominant Victory
RCB, restricted to 169/8, struggled to recover from the early setbacks. Gujarat Titans chased the target with ease, securing a commanding eight-wicket win in Bengaluru.