Suspense crime, Digital Desk : It may seem harsh to scrutinize bowlers on a day when over 400 runs were scored with 25 balls still unused. Yet, the finer details reveal how Rajasthan Royals’ young opening duo, Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Yashasvi Jaiswal, completely outclassed Gujarat Titans’ pace attack, despite the latter’s strong track record this season.

GT’s Short-Ball Strategy and its Breakdown

Until this match, Gujarat Titans’ pacers, led by Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, had built a reputation for effective use of short deliveries:

15 wickets from short-pitched bowling

Economy rate: 8.08, best among all pace attacks

Prasidh Krishna: 9 wickets with a 6.38 economy against hard lengths

However, against RR, the short-ball formula backfired spectacularly:

In the first four overs, Siraj and Ishant Sharma bowled 23 balls at a length or shorter.

RR raced to 60 runs in no time.

Washington Sundar also went flat into the wicket and was taken for 21 runs off his over.

Prasidh managed a brief slowdown at the end of the powerplay, but by then, the damage was already substantial.

Rajasthan Royals’ Powerplay Supremacy

Heading into the game, Rajasthan Royals boasted the best powerplay run-rate (10.38) among all teams in IPL 2025.
In their previous match against RCB, Suryavanshi and Jaiswal piled on 72/2 in six overs during a 206-run chase, taking advantage of short balls with a high strike rate.

Jaiswal’s transformation against short-pitched bowling is noteworthy:

IPL 2024: 6 dismissals against short balls in the powerplay

IPL 2025: 115 runs off 70 balls against short balls (SR: 164.28) with just 2 dismissals prior to this match

Suryavanshi had similarly been aggressive, scoring 26 off 10 balls against short deliveries in previous games.

Match Analysis: Rajasthan Openers vs Gujarat Quick Bowlers

The Royals attacked 80.7% of pace deliveries throughout the innings, scoring 123 runs off 48 balls at a stunning strike rate of 256.25 against pace.

Only five balls were pitched full, and of those, three full tosses and a slot ball were dispatched for boundaries.
The sole yorker bowled resulted in Suryavanshi’s dismissal — but by then, RR had already sealed the chase.

GT’s Historical Struggles with Short-Pitch Tactics

Gujarat Titans’ short-ball heavy strategy has previously backfired:

Against PBKS: Conceded 66 runs off 31 balls with 43.05% deliveries at short length

Against LSG: Aiden Markram scored 34 off 16 balls against short-pitched deliveries during his 58-run knock

Short-Pitched Bowling by GT Quick Bowlers in IPL 2025:

The stark contrast in success rates shows GT’s heavy reliance on short balls works only under specific conditions.

Missed Opportunity to Tighten the Chase

Reflecting on RR’s previous home game, a shift to death-bowling tactics earlier — like Avesh Khan’s yorker-laden finish against RR — might have rattled the Royals’ top order.
Instead, GT’s persistence with shorter lengths allowed RR’s aggressive openers to dominate and keep their faint playoff hopes alive — mathematically, at least.

Read More: Vaibhav Suryavanshi Smashes Fastest Century by an Indian as Rajasthan Royals Crush Gujarat Titans