STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsHardik Pandya's scintillating innings
The skipper of the Gujarat Titans is leading from the front in this edition of the Indian Premier League. After being plagued by injuries through the last couple of years, Hardik Pandya has been at his best in the five matches played thus far.
Coming in at number four with the team tottering at 15 for the loss of two wickets, the right-handed batter consolidated the innings with an unbeaten 87 off 52 deliveries studded with eight boundaries and four massive hits over the fence.
En route to this match-defining innings that powered the team to 192 runs in the first innings, Hardik recorded his second-highest score in the tournament and was the first instance of the 28-year old scoring two consecutive half-centuries in the extravaganza.
His four massive hits over the fence also propelled him to join an elite list of Indian players who have smashed 100 sixes in the competition, batting at number four or lower.
With 103 maximums, Hardik is at number five, while former India skipper MS Dhoni is on top of the list with 217 sixes.
Buttler's blazing start in the powerplay
In pursuit of 193 runs, Rajasthan Royals were off to a blistering start in the powerplay courtesy of Jos Buttler's brutal hitting. The opening batter has been in sublime form this season and started the inning with three boundaries of Mohammed Shami in the first over.
He was equally severe on the debutant Yash Dayal and displayed an array of strokes all around the record to record his half-century in the first six overs of the innings.
The 31-year old smashed his half-century off 23 deliveries, which is the second-fastest for him in the tournament, to help the Royals get off to a flying start.
En route to his innings, he smashed eight boundaries and three sixes at a strike rate of 225 to dent the bowling unit of the Titans. However, despite his valiant effort, the Royals fell short by 37 runs after a middle-order collapse.
Sanju Samson breaches a special milestone
With the dismissal of Buttler, all eyes were on skipper Sanju Samson in the run chase. However, after starting the season with a bang, the right-handed batter has not been amongst his best in the last couple of games.
While he was dismissed by a shade of brilliance from Hardik Pandya in the field for 11 runs, Samson achieved a remarkable feat as he became only the second player to score 2500 runs for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. Ajinkya Rahane, the former skipper of the Royals, is on top of this list with 2810 runs.
