That brings us to the end of our coverage of today's Indian Premier League fixture. Gujarat Titans continue their domination in the league, they have been a force to reckon with since their incorporation for sure! With the weekend upon us, we'll be back with coverage and blogs of a double header tomorrow - kicking off with the age-old Chennai Super Kings-Mumbai Indians rivalry at Chepauk, followed by a spicy clash between the Delhi Capitals and the Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Arun Jaitley Stadium! This is Rajarshi, signing off on behalf of my friend Sooryanarayanan. Good night!

Rashid Khan, Player Of The Match: It's just about making sure, you don't give that much of a signal to the batsman and make it easier for them. I've just been trying my best, for the last one and a half years to perfect the leg spin and wrong un, trying to bowl with the same grip. I'm trying my best to work a lot as a bowler in the nets, keeping it making harder for the batsmen. Sometimes you tend to lose your line and length. It's more about consistency over the same. (On dealing with off days) I keep it simple, in case of bad days. I feel like I bowl a few bad deliveries and was punished on my bad days. That is something you can't do in T20s, you don't have time to bowl them. I tend to talk with my video analyst and work with them. I did some spot-bowling in the nets the other day to make sure I hit the right areas. (On Hardik not interfering between him and Noor) That is something which makes it easier. Me and Noor speak Pashto, and it makes it easy for Noor as well. Hardik always tells me to keep close to him. The way he has been working, listening, and asking questions has been the main reason for his success. (On how many wrist spinners there are in Afghanistan currently) To be honest, more than 1000 now. I've been to many academies there, and I've seen so many leg spinners. There were about 250 wrist spinners in one academy during my first year in the IPL. That was the kind of impact on the people of Afghanistan. I've played about 5-6 years in the IPL now, I think it's more now. I've been receiving lots of messages and good videos of bowlers, youngsters, they're so good. Mujeeb, Zahir Khan, Qais Ahmed, they haven't got the opportunity to play this league this time, but, in future, once they get an opportunity, I feel that they are going to be very effective as well.

Hardik Pandya (Gujarat Titans captain): (How much does he have to discuss plans with Rashid and Noor?) Not much - I let Rashid handle that business with Noor. Repeating the same language I think nobody's better than Rashid to communicate with him. There's not much I have to do. Does he want a slip or not, a short mid-wicket or a short fine leg, that's all I have to do. Only when I feel something's wrong I have to have a conversation else most of the time they know what to do. I have always found Wriddhi as one of the best wicket-keepers I have played with. It's not easy to pick Rashid and Noor's deliveries. At the end of the day we know we have to be professionals. We're relaxed if you're doing your job. If you're just too casual on the park sometimes we have to pull our socks up. On the ground we can be a little strict. I made some bad error in judgement in the last game. Today I think my job was half-done by the time Shubman got out. But at the same time I had a lot of time to think about the last game. I like to take up responsibility and learn from it. Acceptance is the biggest key to learn in life.

Wriddhiman Saha (Gujarat Titans): Chaaliye jaacchi, jotodin paara jaay (I'm looking to keep it going for as long as I can). The kind of benchmark we set last season, we've continued the same this season. Everyone is contributing collectively here and there. My role is to cash in on the first six overs. I know the last two-three matches haven't gone well for me but I watched the ball and scored a couple of good shots. (On reading Rashid Khan from behind the wickets) With Rashid and Noor, I try to follow the ball as late as I can and follow the rotation. If I don't read the googly or the leg-break, if my hands stay low I can then pick it up. After every game we discuss what we can do better irrespective of whether we win or lose. We had a discussion after the last match and we executed it today.

Sanju Samson (Rajasthan Royals captain): We had a very tough night today. We did have a really good powerplay to start with but we lost our way in the middle. Our bowlers having 120-odd to defend found it tough. Their bowlers bowled a really good line and length on this wicket and we struggled to get those runs. If you keep on losing wickets in the middle-overs there is nothing much you can do in this format. (Will the team analyze this result deeply or render it a bad day?) It's a mix of both - you can't go too deep into it since we have a game in one night. But we definitely have to check if we are playing good cricket. In this tournament you don't win games by just playing good cricket. We need to pull our socks up and we are very hungry to do well.

Match summary:

Gujarat Titans will by 9 wickets with 37 balls to spare

Wriddhiman Saha 41*(34) | Rashid Khan 3/14 (4)
Sanju Samson 30(20) | Yuzvendra Chahal 1/22 (3.5)

Don't be mistaken by the mundane end to the game, this has been a brutal run-chase by the Gujarat Titans! Although the two openers, Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill, got them off to a flyer, the chief architect behind the game ending before 10:30 p.m in India was the skipper, Hardik Pandya! He walked in, took Adam Zampa to the cleaners, and put the game to bed once and for all!

Sanju Samson might have missed a trick by not operating with his spinners in the powerplay itself. With such a low total to defend, he might as well given the ball to his leg spinners and baited the batters into false stroke, but he chose to stick with his pace duo of Trent Boult and Sandeep Sharma. Although both of them found some shape off the air, they proved to be ineffective as Saha and Gill saw them off with ease. Both the batters, in need for runs, got off to fine starts, with Saha, as always, going on the charge.

The introduction of both Zampa and Chahal saw the batters opt to adopt a cautious approach. Chahal was immaculate with his line and length, he troubled Saha and Gill, and eventually accounted for the latter. That brought in Hardik Pandya to the centre, and he had only one thing in mind. Zampa's third over went 6,4,6,6,1,1 as Hardik took him to the cleaners. It was simply a matter of formality after that. Gujarat Titans coasted home with plenty of time and wickets to spare, extending their stay at the summit of the points table for a few more days in the process.

Gujarat Titans make light work of this low run-chase! Not only do they cling on to the top spot in the points table, they also ensure that their Net Run Rate rockets up! Honours even between these two sides in the league stage of the 2023 Indian Premier League!

13.5 Yuzvendra Chahal to Wriddhiman Saha, THERE IT IS! As easy as that with Saha coming forward to this flighted full length delivery at the stumps to push it without a fuss to long off as he crosses over. It's been that easy today for the defending champions as they've swatted the Royals' challenge aside without breaking a sweat. Gujarat Titans win by 9 wickets with 37 deliveries to spare!

13.4 Yuzvendra Chahal to Hardik Pandya, flighted full on off stump. Pandya comes half-forward to ease his push down to long off for a run. The scores are level!

13.3 Yuzvendra Chahal to Wriddhiman Saha, flighted full on leg stump. Saha sits low and sweeps firmly along the carpet for a single to deep square leg

13.2 Yuzvendra Chahal to Hardik Pandya, good length delivery turning away on off stump. Pandya camps back and flays a punch on the up to long off for a solitary run

13.1 Yuzvendra Chahal to Wriddhiman Saha, slightly short on off stump. Saha rocks back and mows it flat to deep mid-wicket who picks up to his left. Just a single - will Pandya finish it off in style?

Saha decided to play it safe and take the game to the 14th over. Ashwin didn't give him the length to hit, of course. Good to see him back in the runs. Now then, 5 needed, can Saha seal it with a six?

12.6 Ravichandran Ashwin to Wriddhiman Saha, back of a length delivery outside the off stump. Saha rocks back and punches it to sweeper cover to retain strike

12.5 Ravichandran Ashwin to Wriddhiman Saha, length delivery on middle and leg stump. Saha hops back and nudges the ball to short mid-wicket, no run

One six will seal the deal for the Titans here.