Gujarat Titans Hand Bengaluru First Defeat of IPL 2025 Siraj and Buttler Shine
With a commanding eight-wicket win at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Gujarat Titans presented a calm and precise performance on Wednesday, effectively breaking Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s perfect record in the 2025 IPL season.
Returning to face his previous side, Pacer Mohammed Siraj made an immediate impression with a blistering performance helping to limit Bengaluru to 169-8. Early in the innings, Siraj removed important hitters Devdutt Padikkal and Phil Salt, then dismissed the dangerous Liam Livingstone in the 18th over with figures of 3 for 19.
“It was a bit emotional, playing against a team I called home for seven years,” Siraj said following game. “Nervous energy existed, but it was all focus and belief once I got the ball in my hand. That’s my way of thinking—I think I can deliver anywhere I’m playing.”
Bengaluru’s total never looked quite enough, despite Livingstone’s strong 54 off 38 balls—which featured three huge sixes off Rashid Khan—and a late cameo from Tim David (32 off 18). Livingstone slipped on 9 and then survived a close LBW appeal; nevertheless, his 52-run stand with Jitesh Sharma (33 off 21) provided RCB some middle overs momentum.
But Jos Buttler anchored Gujarat’s chase brilliantly from the beginning, looking in perfect control. Reaching his half-century with a soaring six off Livingstone, he closed out the game in style by smashing an undefeated 73 from only 39 deliveries. Starting Gujarat with a consistent pace, Sai Sudharsan (49) teamed impact player Sherfane Rutherford (30 not out) to lead the side home with 13 balls left.
“I really enjoyed that one,” Buttler remarked following the victory. “The bowlers set the tone; although we should have field better—my drop of Phil Salt was annoying—we recovered really well. I’m just trying to play with intention and enjoy the game once more; I had some difficult months in cricket..”
After their first campaign loss, Bengaluru is forced to rebuild while Gujarat rises the IPL 2025 rankings. Notwithstanding the setback, the game reminded me of how fast momentum can change in T20 cricket—particularly when former colleagues return with evidence to support their claims.
