In IPL 2023, the top player for the Gujarat Titans startled the crowd with a spectacular fielding play against the Rajasthan Royals.
In the 2023 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Abhinav Manohar’s magnificent direct hit from the boundary to dismiss Adam Zampa was the talk of cricket fans everywhere. Zampa absolutely misplayed a delivery from Mohit Sharma during the match between the Rajasthan Royals and the Gujarat Titans, but the ball ended up between the two fielders for GT. The batters were able to breathe easier, and they tried to go for a second run while Manohar was busy with other things. Quickly picking up the ball, his throw shook the RR stumps and ended their innings for their lowest score of the season.
The two Afghan spinners for the Gujarat Titans, Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad, combined for five wickets to bowl out the Rajasthan Royals for 118.
After winning the toss, the Rajasthan Royals decided to bat, however, their batting collapsed in the face of Rashid (who returned 4-0-14-3) and Noor (who recorded 3-0-25-2).
Up until the fifth over of their innings, when they were 47 for one, Rajasthan seemed in control at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. However, the home side collapsed without putting up any resistance, losing nine wickets for only 71 runs, and being bowled out in 17.5 overs.
In the second over, after Jos Buttler (8) smashed two consecutive fours, he was caught by Mohit Sharma at short third man off Hardik Pandya.
RR’s 36-run second-wicket stand was interrupted in the final over of the powerplay when Abhinav Manohar dove to stop a cut from Sanju Samson. Yashasvi Jaiswal (14) also contributed to the effort.
With Jaiswal well beyond the crease, Mohit Sharma tossed the ball to Rashid, who cracked the stumps.
The bowling attack, led by Rashid, eventually grabbed command of the game. Samson was off to a great start, scoring 30 off 20 balls (3 fours, 1 six) before RR skipper Little halted his run by catching him inside the ring off a mistimed stroke.
Samson attempted to play on the on side by crossing the line, but he only managed to obtain a leading edge, which Pandya caught as the RR captain stared at the ground in bewilderment.
In the eighth over, Rashid bowled more accurately than his opponent, Ravichandran Ashwin (2), and eventually removed his off-stump with the penultimate ball.
In the 10th over, Riyan Parag (4) failed to read the Afghan leggie’s googly and was given out lbw after appealing in vain to the umpire.
Halfway through their innings, RR was struggling at 72 for 5.
Castling the left-handed Devdutt Padikkal (12) in the 12th over and trapping the threatening Dhruv Jurel (9) leg-before in his next, Noor Ahmed got in on the action to keep RR under pressure.
The Caribbean batsman’s terrible IPL season continued as Rashid returned in the 15th over to dismiss Shimron Hetmyer (7) leg-before.
Hetmyer has gone five rounds without a single score in the double digits.
In his final over, Rashid came close to picking up his fourth wicket, but he was unable to catch Trent Boult after a return shot off Boult’s bat.
