Kagiso Rabada starred with the ball because the Gujarat Titans beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by 5 wickets within the IPL on Friday.
The Proteas quick bowler took 3-29 in his 4 overs because the Titans dismissed KKR for 180.
The hosts reached their goal with two balls remaining due to captain Shubman Gill’s 86 off 50 balls.
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It was Gill’s third straight half-century for the Titans, following up on 76 towards the Delhi Capitals and 50 towards the Lucknow SuperGiants within the earlier two video games. He now averages 59.52 in 27 T20s performed at Ahmedabad.
Placing at 172, Gill hit 4 sixes and eight fours.
Sumptous Strokes 🫡
🎥 Shubman Gill was at his fluent finest en route his excellent 8⃣6⃣(50) 😎
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 17, 2026
Cameron Inexperienced – the costliest abroad participant in IPL historical past – overcame poor type to high rating within the Kolkata innings with 79 from 55 balls.
“The one factor that issues is successful,” mentioned Gill. “We might have appreciated to complete the sport a few overs earlier.
“I used to be upset the way in which I acquired out. I needed to be there until the top and end it. Hopefully, I will try this the following probability I get.”
Gill was filled with reward for his two opening bowlers with Mohammed Siraj, who took 2-23, and Rabada.
“The way in which Rabada and Siraj bowled, it regarded as if they might choose up wickets each ball. Kolkata has a protracted batting line-up so it was essential to maintain taking wickets within the center overs.”
Gujarat transfer to fourth within the desk, their third win in 5 video games giving them six factors. Kolkata are tenth – and final – with 5 losses and a no-result in six video games.
Chasing 181, Gujarat acquired off to a positive begin – Gill and Sai Sudharsan (22) placed on 57 in 31 balls for the primary wicket.
Gill continued stitching important partnerships – 38 with Jos Buttler, who scored 25, and 46 with Washington Sundar, who made 13.
Thriller spinner Varun Chakravarthy got here on as an impression sub, and dismissed each Buttler and Sundar, selecting up 2-34 in 4 overs.
The skipper scored 50 off 27 balls, his sixth at this venue the place he additionally has 4 T20 tons of.
Inexperienced took an excellent catch to dismiss Gill three overs earlier than the top, however the Titans have been by no means in any trouble chasing a sub-par rating on a batter-friendly floor.
Earlier, Kolkata had struggled towards the tempo of Rabada and Siraj.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane was out for a golden duck to Siraj, whereas Angkrish Raghuvanshi made eight. Rabada additionally eliminated Tim Seifert for 14 – unable to make use of the width supplied and providing a easy catch to fellow New Zealander Glenn Phillips.
Excellent begin for @gujarat_titans 🔥
🎥 Kagiso Rabada roaring with 2️⃣ early wickets ☝️
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— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 17, 2026
For as soon as, Inexperienced got here good when Kolkata wanted him.
That they had purchased the Australian for an eye-watering 25.20 crore ($3-million) within the 2025 public sale, however he has struggled for type. He had three single-digit scores within the earlier 5 video games, with 32* towards Lucknow his finest rating.
This time Inexperienced hit 50 off 34 balls – his first for Kolkata and third general in IPL. He held the innings collectively, rebuilding from 32-3 and including 55 with Rovman Powell who scored 27.
His key partnership got here with Anukul Roy who solely scored 9 however helped placed on 60 off 23 balls for the fifth wicket.
Kolkata, nonetheless, misplaced 4 wickets for 19 runs in one other lower-middle order collapse, and regardless of Inexperienced’s finest efforts, completed with a sub-200 rating.
– AFP
Photograph: BCCI
