Below is a news article crafted for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) vs. Gujarat Titans (GT) IPL match on April 2, 2025, designed to be indexable by Google News. Following the article, I’ll provide the best keywords and meta description for optimal search engine visibility.
Gujarat Titans Outclass Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2025 Thriller at Chinnaswamy
Bengaluru, April 2, 2025 – Gujarat Titans (GT) handed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) their first defeat of the IPL 2025 season with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. Powered by an unbeaten 73 from Jos Buttler and a stellar bowling performance led by Mohammed Siraj, GT chased down RCB’s 169/8 with 13 balls to spare, signaling their intent in the tournament.
The match began with GT skipper Shubman Gill winning the toss and opting to bowl first, a decision that paid dividends as their bowlers dismantled RCB’s top order early. Mohammed Siraj, returning to his former home ground in GT colors, was the standout performer, finishing with figures of 3/19. His fiery spell saw him dismiss key RCB batsmen, including Devdutt Padikkal, Phil Salt, and Virat Kohli, reducing the hosts to a precarious 42/4.
RCB’s recovery was spearheaded by Liam Livingstone, who smashed a quickfire 54 off 32 balls, and Jitesh Sharma, who contributed 33. A late cameo from Tim David (32) helped RCB post a respectable 169/8 in their 20 overs. Sai Kishore supported Siraj with 2/22, while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with a wicket, keeping RCB’s scoring in check on a typically high-scoring Chinnaswamy pitch.
In response, GT’s chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Openers Sai Sudharsan (49) and Shubman Gill (14) set a solid foundation before Jos Buttler took charge. The English star, unbeaten on 73 off 39 balls, including seven fours and three sixes, dismantled RCB’s bowling attack with ease. Sherfane Rutherford’s quick 30 off 18 balls sealed the deal, as GT cruised to 170/2 in 17.5 overs.
“Credit to our bowlers for setting it up. I just wanted to make up for a dropped catch earlier and enjoy my batting,” Buttler said at the post-match presentation, reflecting on his match-winning knock. His performance propelled him to third in the IPL 2025 Orange Cap race, underlining his form after a challenging period leading into the tournament.
For RCB, the loss marked a disappointing homecoming after an unbeaten start to the season with wins over Kolkata Knight Riders and Chennai Super Kings. Captain Rajat Patidar admitted the team struggled to adapt: “We didn’t execute our plans well today. It’s a small ground, and we needed to adjust better.”
Social media buzzed with reactions, with fans trolling RCB’s inconsistency with memes like “Vintage RCB is back,” while others praised Siraj’s emotional return and Buttler’s brilliance. The defeat dropped RCB to third on the points table with a net run rate of +1.149, while GT climbed to fourth with four points from three games.
The Titans’ clinical display showcased their all-round strength, though fielding lapses remain an area for improvement. RCB, meanwhile, will look to regroup ahead of their next clash against Mumbai Indians on April 7. For GT, a stern test awaits against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 6.
As IPL 2025 heats up, this match served as a reminder of the tournament’s unpredictability and the Titans’ growing dominance.
Keywords
- Primary Keyword: RCB vs GT IPL 2025
- Secondary Keywords: Gujarat Titans, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Jos Buttler, Mohammed Siraj, IPL match April 2, Chinnaswamy Stadium, IPL 2025 points table
Description
“Gujarat Titans crushed Royal Challengers Bengaluru by 8 wickets in an IPL 2025 thriller on April 2 at Chinnaswamy Stadium. Jos Buttler’s unbeaten 73 and Mohammed Siraj’s 3/19 sealed GT’s dominant win.”
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