Follow UsThe more aggressive Jos Buttler gets, higher the probability of losing his wicket. This was Gujarat Titans' leg-spinner Rashid Khan's thinking before he set out to get Rajasthan Royals' best batter in the IPL 2022 final.
Buttler, Orange Cap holder for the season, has scored four hundreds and as many fifties at a strike rate of 149 was unable to get going in the summit clash as he was dismissed by Rashid on 39.
The opener departed in the 13th over in Rashid Khan's bowling by nicking it to keeper Wriddhiman Saha as RR's scoring slowed down.
"I knew that the wicket was helping me and just bowled the right areas. I don't have too many plans, just keep it simple for him (Buttler), if he goes after me, the chances of me getting his wicket is higher," Rashid during the innings break on Sunday.
"We just wanted to be tight and put the pressure on him (on the game plan). I wanted to bring my length back, and I wanted to adjust my length on this wicket. There was enough turn for me, that helped me get wickets and helped the team in the middle overs," he added.
Rashid bowled a miserly four overs claiming 1-18 as GT captain Hardik Pandya got 3-17 to restrict RR to 130/9 in 20 overs.
"It's a simple game, just focus on your own skill, not worry about things that you can't control. This is the first time I'm playing in front of such a big crowd, we didn't want to think it's the final, just keep it simple," Rashid said of the conditions at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.