Courtesy: BCCI/IPL
Following the thrilling TATA IPL 2024 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Gujarat Titans, JioStar expert Kane Williamson shared his insights on the match during the post-game discussion on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar. He analyzed the teams’ performances, key players, and game-changing moments that shaped the contest.
Speaking exclusively on Kuhl Fans Match Centre Live on JioHotstar, JioStar expert Kane Williamson praised Jos Buttler’s performance for Gujarat Titans, He said: "There’s always something refreshing about joining a new team, and that’s what Jos Buttler got here at Gujarat Titans. It’s a great environment. What I’m really enjoying about Jos at the moment is that, while many big hitters in other teams are looking to hit every ball for six, he remains totally committed to and trusting of his game plan. Over the last eight years, he has consistently been one of the top batters and a match-winner in world cricket. We saw that again this evening, and it bodes really well for GT going forward in the tournament."
On Mohammad Siraj’s outstanding bowling performance, Williamson remarked: "Siraj is obviously familiar with the conditions at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. He bowled with real fire in his belly, led the attack with aggression, and bowled with some excellent pace. He was deservedly named Player of the Match. While Jos Buttler was outstanding and back to his best in the second innings, Siraj set the tone early on, making a significant impact for GT."
Discussing Virat Kohli’s dismissal, Williamson said: "It was just an instinctive shot—one that Virat has played a million times before. This time, it went straight to the fielder. He’s hit it for six plenty of times, he’s flicked it along the ground, but sometimes, that’s just how the game goes. It was a huge wicket for GT because Virat at Chinnaswamy is incredibly destructive. He has scored around 3,000 runs here and knows how to bat long and play match-winning knocks. So, getting him out early was crucial for Gujarat Titans."
Reflecting on what Royal Challengers Bengaluru could do differently after this loss, Williamson offered his thoughts: "There’s a growing trend in the TATA IPL where teams are constantly aiming for high totals, especially at venues like Bengaluru and Hyderabad, where big scores seem achievable. But sometimes, in the pursuit of those high totals, you can get ahead of yourself. After losing a couple of early wickets, it’s important to consolidate and build a partnership. If you have wickets in hand, the last 10 overs can be really productive, going at 14 runs per over or more. Perhaps, RCB might reflect on this game and feel that if they had batted together for a few more overs, they could have set themselves up better. They played incredibly well in the first two games, but they might look back and think that a different approach in the middle overs could have put them in a stronger position on this wicket, which had some assistance for seam bowlers."
(With Inputs from Press Release)
