Rahul-Miller heroics in vain as GT script one-run jailbreak

In a nutshell

Gujarat Titans found themselves on the wrong side of two close contests to kickstart their IPL 2026 campaign. Things turned their way at last as they snuck past Delhi Capitals by a solitary run on Wednesday (April 8), in what was undoubtedly the match of the tournament thus far. David Miller so nearly emerged the Capitals' hero having returned to bat after retiring hurt, but his decision to turn down a single off the penultimate ball of the chase backfired on him as the Titans held their nerve with Jos Buttler scoring a direct-hit to seal victory.

The match in phases

Brief scores: Gujarat Titans 210/4 in 20 overs [Shubman Gill 70 (45), Washington Sundar 55 (32), Jos Buttler 52 (27); Lungi Ngidi 1-24] beat Delhi Capitals 209/8 in 20 overs [KL Rahul 92 (52), David Miller 41* (20), Pathum Nissanka 41 (24); Rashid Khan 3-17] by 1 run.

Who won GT the game?

The differentiator was Rashid Khan, with the wrist-spinner showing shades of his vintage best with returns of 3/17 off his four overs. Rashid peppered that good length area consistently, bowling 11 balls in that zone and picking up 2/4. His control was impeccable and his double-strike in the 10th over, which included a ripping googly to castle the in-form Sameer Rizvi for a golden duck, brought GT back into the game in defense of a score of 210. He then wound up his spell with the wicket of Axar Patel, sending the asking rate up.

But firstly, how did GT get to 210?

The Titans lost Sai Sudharsan early in the piece but captain Shubman Gill's return was a welcome one. Except, it was Jos Buttler, who put a sluggish start to the season and a wretched T20 World Cup campaign behind him to unleash his very best in the Powerplay. His innings of 52 was studded with his trademark hits down the ground, as well as the ramp as he tore into Mukesh Kumar, while he did not allow Axar Patel to settle either.

That bought Gill some time at the other end to ease his way in before he switched gears, although Washington Sundar vindicated GT's decision to bat him at number 4 with a half-century of his own. A third-wicket stand of 104 between Gill and Sundar laid the foundation for the Titans to post a score in excess of 200 on what was a beautiful batting strip, with the skipper scoring 70.

Was there scope for the Titans to score more?

There was, with a set Gill and Sundar expected to take them past 220. But a 12-ball passage in the death overs saw GT score just six runs while losing Gill, with Lungi Ngidi proving to be miserly with his slower deliveries that proved difficult to put away. It then took some handy blows from Sundar to take the Titans to that 210 mark.

Who was the batting star for DC?

With scores of 0 and 1 ahead of this game, KL Rahul may have felt the pressure. Except, it didn't seem that way as he looked to play his shots from the outset, even as he mistimed a few in the Powerplay and got away with them. Pathum Nissanka set the tone, taking down Ashok Sharma in a 23-run sixth over as DC managed 63 runs in the Powerplay. But Rahul activated a time machine to his 2018 days, with exquisite shots all around the ground headlining his innings. He raised a 29-ball fifty and such was his intent that even Rashid's double-strike didn't stop him from greeting Sundar with a six.

So where did things turn?

David Miller battled a finger injury and couldn't find himself in any kind of comfort while playing his shots. He had to retire hurt and with Kagiso Rabada backing up Rashid's spell with a couple of decent overs, the asking rate mounted at the death. Rahul kept the chase going but his dismissal on 92 seemed to signal the end for the Capitals.

Until...

Miller returned to bat, a little before Rahul's dismissal and brought with him other ideas. With 36 needed off the last two overs, Mohammed Siraj lost the plot, dishing out too many in Miller's wheelhouse in a 23-run over. 13 runs were required off the last over as Prasidh Krishna dismissed Vipraj Nigam after a first-ball four. When Miller launched one over the Gautam Gambhir Stand, the game looked done and dusted.

Except, with two runs needed off the last two deliveries, he chose not to take a single and put Kuldeep Yadav on strike for the last ball. Miller then missed a slower bouncer before Buttler duly nailed the stumps to catch Kuldeep short, sealing an epic for the Titans.

Where do the teams head next?

GT stay north and jet across to Lucknow for an afternoon clash against the Super Giants on Sunday (April 12). DC set out on a South Indian voyage for their next three games, commencing with a fixture against Chennai Super Kings at Chepauk on Saturday (April 11).