Suryavanshi and Jaiswal Power Past GT’s Short-Ball Strategy
A Blast From the Rajasthan Openers
In a high-scoring IPL 2025 match, Rajasthan Royals openers Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed Gujarat Titans’ bowlers, turning the tide in their favor. It was a day where runs flowed freely, with over 400 scored, but the brilliance of the young opening duo stood out.
GT’s Usual Tactics Backfire
Gujarat Titans have relied on their strong pace attack, particularly their short-pitched bowling, to dominate opponents throughout the tournament. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna have been instrumental in this strategy, picking up wickets and keeping runs in check. However, on this day, their trademark short balls were ruthlessly punished by Suryavanshi and Jaiswal.
Dominating the Powerplay
From the very beginning, Suryavanshi and Jaiswal were on fire. They scored 60 runs in the first four overs, putting immense pressure on the GT bowlers. Even though Prasidh Krishna managed to slightly contain them, the damage was already done.
A Pattern of Success
This aggressive approach from RR’s openers has been a recurring theme throughout the season. They have consistently posted high scores in the powerplay, making them a formidable force. Notably, Jaiswal has significantly improved his performance against short-pitched bowling compared to last year.
GT’s reliance on short balls proved costly, as Suryavanshi and Jaiswal targeted them effectively, scoring 123 runs off 48 balls bowled at a pace. The Titans’ decision to avoid bowling full balls also backfired, allowing the RR openers to freely punish any deliveries that were slightly higher.
GT’s Short-Ball Dilemma
This game highlighted a potential weakness in GT’s strategy. Their over-reliance on short-pitched bowling has backfired against teams like PBKS and LSG, where batsmen like Shreyas Iyer and Aiden Markram successfully countered this tactic. This suggests that GT might need to diversify their bowling attack and consider alternative strategies in the future.
A Tough Loss for GT
This defeat against RR puts further pressure on GT’s playoff aspirations. While they are still mathematically in the race, they will need to significantly improve their performance in the remaining matches to secure a spot in the playoffs.
