The Hindu (Thiruvananthapuram)
Defending champion Rublev crashes out
Rashid Khan hogged the limelight as Gujarat Titans halted Rajasthan Royals’ unbeaten run in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League with a threewicket win here on Wednesday.
Chasing a daunting target of 197, Titans were in a spot of bother needing 73 in the last five overs. However, with the seasoned Rashid (24 n.o., 11b, 4x4) and Rahul Tewatia forging a crucial 38run stand, the Gujarat side turned the tide before the Afghan ace
Andrey Rublev's Monte Carlo Masters title defence ended at the first hurdle on Wednesday with a straightsets defeat by Australian Alexei Popyrin, while Jannik Sinner eased through.
The Russian never got going in the secondround tie as Popyrin eased to a 64, 64 win.
The World No. 46 will face compatriot Alex de Minaur, who beat Tallon Griekspoor in three sets, for a possible quarterfinal sealed the deal with a lastball four when two were required.
After Riyan Parag (76, 48b, 3x4, 5x6) and captain Sanju Samson (68 n.o, 38b, 7x4, 2x6) guided Rajasthan Royals to 196 for three with a 130run stand, Titans began steadily. Skipper Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan added 64 runs for the opening wicket before Kuldeep Sen struck.
Featuring in his first match of the season, the young fast bowler turned the Titans ship upside down in his first two overs by dismissing Sai Sudharsan, Matthew Wade and Abhinav Manohar. Titans slipped to 83 for three in 11 overs as Kuldeep dominated the proceedings. against Novak Djokovic.
Australian Open champion Sinner cruised through, though, seeing off American Sebastian Korda 61, 62.
The World No. 2 converted seven of the 12 break points he created and saved all three of the ones he faced in a dominant performance.
The Italian will next play JanLennard Struff of Germany in the last 16.
The results: Second round: de Minaur bt Griekspoor 26, 62, 63; Popyrin bt Rublev 64, 64; Sonego bt AugerAliassime 64, 75; Tsitsipas bt Etcheverry 61, 60; Khachanov bt Cerundolo 46, 64, 63; Sinner bt Korda 61, 62.
As wickets tumbled, the onus was on Gill. Having reached yet another halfcentury, the resilient Gujarat captain hit Yuzvendra Chahal for consecutive boundaries in the 16th over before being stumped by his counterpart. As a dejected Gill walked back to the dugout, it seemed all over for Titans. But Rashid and Tewatia had other ideas.
After showing his guile to finish with figures of 40181, Rashid displayed his range of strokes, while Tewatia chipped in with a 11ball 22run cameo. After his early success, Kuldeep wilted under pressure and conceded 20 in the penultimate over which turned the game Titans’ way.
Earlier, a sudden shower before the toss prompted Titans to bowl. Yashasvi Jaiswal, not in the best of form, began aggressively and scored 24 off just 19 deliveries before Matthew Wade took a terrific catch off Umesh Yadav’s bowling. Spin ace Rashid sent back Jos Buttler soon after, but Titans failed to build on the advantage.
While Wade dropped Parag twice, poor fielding, too, let the Titans down. However, it was Gill's men who had the last laugh.