11.09 pm From being dead and buried in the Powerplay after sensational twin new-ball bursts from Shami and Hardik, to being just as dead and buried at the halfway stage. They were 66 for 4 after 12 overs needing 112 runs to win from 48 balls with a 2.01% chance of winning according to the ESPNcricinfo win probability calculation... and somehow Rajasthan get there with four balls to spare! What an extraordinary comeback by Royals. They avenge their loss in the 2022 IPL Final.

Hetmyer could have been caught at deep third man by Shami in the 16th over on 22, but a horrible misjudgment resulted in the ball landing just over the rope for six. The fielding by comparison that Rajasthan produced in the first innings made a huge difference in the end, in particular Boult's improbable return catch after Samson collided with Hetmyer, and Buttler's alert runout off the deflection by Zampa.

Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya: "That's the beauty about this game. The game is never over. That was the message to the boys as well. The game is never over until it's over. So I think this is one more less for us. [Asked why he opted to bring in Noor as the Impact Sub instead of Josh Little] He's someone who is difficult to pick as well. He actually bowled well. I don't want to be harsh on him. He got us a big breakthrough which we wanted but I think the other bowlers did not execute. It's a very long tournament. Obviously all these losses remind you at the end of the tournament reminds you if you are not on the other side but it's still a very long tournament. A lot of matches left. We still need to play a lot of good cricket even if we had won today. I felt we were short some runs at the innings break. They bowled some good overs but we should have gone harder to put the game [out of reach] and get a 200 total. When I was watching outside, I did feel we were maybe 10 runs short."

Rajasthan Royals batter Devdutt Padikkal: "It got a little tense. When these matches go down to the wire, it's always a bit tense. But I felt everyone had the belief that we had Ashwin out there who could finish it off. We knew that we had to try to keep the scoreboard ticking at some point. We couldn't just try to take it deep. We had to get boundaries from time to time. It was moving around quite a bit the first 3-4 overs so we had to be circumspect but at the same time when the ball was in our areas, we had to go for it. Thankfully we connected with a few which was really important in the end. [On Hetmyer] It's unbelievable how consistent he is doing what he does toward the end of the innings. Every game he comes in and gives us what we need at the end. So we are really grateful to have such a talented asset and hopefully he can continue to win us games. He's always the one leading the celebrations so it's going to be the same tonight."

Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson: "When you play some quality opponents on a quality wicket in a quality stadium like this, you expect a great match. I'm very happy to be on the winning side. I think it was very important to rotate the bowlers. They were going hard at our spinners. After the timeout, they were playing some quality cricket shots and we needed to respect that but I'm very proud of our team for restricting them to a 170-odd score. With the start we had while batting, it was very important to know how good a wicket this was. With the quality of bowling they had in the Powerplay, we had to respect them. But we knew we could play some shots later on. We had a good matchup with Zampa on David Miller and almost got him but still it turned out well for us. [On Hetmyer] I don't think he likes easy situations. We don't mind putting him in these situations."

Shimron Hetmyer named Player of the Match for his 56 not out off 26 balls to seal a Royals win. "I just really wanted to win against these guys because they beat us three times last year so it was a bit of revenge really. I just practice it really. It helps to practice with that mindset that you're a couple of wicket down and you need 100 runs with eight overs left. You just try to program your mind that way and so far it's working. I was pretty happy to be honest to be facing [a spinner for the final over]. I was just focused on getting a double off the first ball and then see what happens after that."

That'll do it for ESPNcricinfo's live coverage from today's IPL doubleheader. Come back tomorrow for some more action. Until then, take care!

19.2
6
Noor Ahmad to Hetmyer, SIX, Hetmyer seals an improbable comeback in this chase for the Royals bashing this over wide midwicket into the LCD ad boards! Too short from Noor on fifth stump, Hetmyer picks the length early and rocks back and across to crush this pull flat over the leg side rope.
19.1
2
Noor Ahmad to Hetmyer, 2 runs, short and wide on seventh stump, cuts this wide of Rashid at cover sweeper who relays in for two but Hetmyer has a 25-ball half-century.

Hardik is tossing the ball to the Afghan debutant Noor Ahmad for the final over ahead of Mohit Sharma.

END OF OVER:
19 | 16 Runs 2 Wkts | RR: 171/7 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.00, RRR: 7.00)

  • Trent Boult0 (1b)
  • Shimron Hetmyer48 (24b)
  • Mohammed Shami4-1-25-3
  • Rashid Khan4-0-46-2

Shyam: "Amidst the debate, its worth pointing out RR's comeback. I thought no way they gonna be here after that powerplay!"

18.6
0
Mohammed Shami to Boult, no run, 142 kph yorker speared in full following Boult backing away from leg stump and he plays over the top of this with a leg side heave.

From 2.01% just after the halfway stage when they needed more than 12 runs per over, Rajasthan's ESPNcricinfo win probability is now 95.42%.

18.5
W
Mohammed Shami to Ashwin, OUT, slower ball at 127 kph lands as a half-volley on seventh stump, Ashwin checks his shot trying to just open his wrists guiding this behind point but is not in control of this and it floats off a thick edge to Tewatia at head height on the ring at backward point.

R Ashwin c Tewatia b Mohammed Shami 10 (4m 3b 1x4 1x6) SR: 333.33

18.4
6
Mohammed Shami to Ashwin, SIX, 134 kph delivery lands short on fourth stump, sits up for Ashwin to swat a pull shot with disdain over wide midwicket bouncing into the base of the LCD ad boards.
18.3
4
Mohammed Shami to Ashwin, FOUR, short and wide, sits up for Ashwin to clatter a cut shot behind point elegantly picking the gap wide of the sweeper to the rope.

In spite of the wicket, Rajasthan's ESPNcricinfo win probability is now at 78.64% having been at 2.01% just after the halfway stage of the chase.

18.2
W
Mohammed Shami to Jurel, OUT, short on the stumps at 141 kph, goes to pull and a top edge swirls behind the keeper. Deep fine leg fielder Mohit Sharma charges 20 yards to his right, and nearly overruns the ball, before stopping his momentum and reaching back left across his body to take an adventurous catch at waist height five yards inside the rope.

DC Jurel c Sharma b Mohammed Shami 18 (19m 10b 2x4 1x6) SR: 180.00

18.1
6
Mohammed Shami to Jurel, SIX, in the slot on fifth stump, creams a drive high and deep over long-on landing in the sightscreen padding.

Chad: "Very confusing why GT do not bowl Tewatia. Keeping him in the side just to face a few balls in the final over is wasting his talents."

Meanwhile, Shami is back for his final over.

END OF OVER:
18 | 13 Runs | RR: 155/5 (23 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.61, RRR: 11.50)

  • Shimron Hetmyer48 (24b)
  • Dhruv Jurel12 (8b)
  • Rashid Khan4-0-46-2
  • Noor Ahmad2-0-21-1

Anupam: "If it was a right a right decision, then there wouldn't have been such outrage. It was a stupid decision to be honest "

17.6
2
Rashid Khan to Hetmyer, 2 runs, short on seventh stump, punches this wide of the sweeper for two.
17.5
6
Rashid Khan to Hetmyer, SIX, Hetmyer charges a full ball outside leg stump and smokes a drive flat over long-on landing in the seventh row adjacent to the sightscreen.
17.4
0
Rashid Khan to Hetmyer, no run, googly flighted full outside leg, Hetmyer goes to slog sweep and misses before being hit in the ribs.
17.3
4
Rashid Khan to Hetmyer, FOUR, short outside leg, Hetmyer shuffles across and pulls this very fine behind square leg to the fine leg rope.
17.2
0
Rashid Khan to Hetmyer, no run, googly lands short on sixth stump, punched to extra cover for none.

Shyam: "Players have different heights, so going above stump shouldnt be a factor! It has to be above waist high, when batsman is in crease in normal stance. Hetty was out of crease, hence a good decision"

17.1
1
Rashid Khan to Jurel, 1 run, googly lands too short spinning into the body, miscued pull goes behind square leg for one.

Rashid returns for his final over in the 18th.

END OF OVER:
17 | 8 Runs | RR: 142/5 (36 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 12.00)

  • Dhruv Jurel11 (7b)
  • Shimron Hetmyer36 (19b)
  • Noor Ahmad2-0-21-1
  • Alzarri Joseph3-0-47-0

PV: "That was on horrendous not-a-no-ball verdict!.."

16.6
1
Noor Ahmad to Jurel, 1 run, full on fourth stump, shovels a drive to long-off for one.
16.5
1
Noor Ahmad to Hetmyer, 1 run, good length ball on the legs, flicked to deep square leg for one.
16.5
1w
Noor Ahmad to Hetmyer, 1 wide, good length ball spins wide of the off stump guideline out of reach of a cut, wide called.
16.4
1
Noor Ahmad to Jurel, 1 run, short on the body, goes to pull and flubs this off the gloves wide of short fine leg. The fielder collects on one bounce and fires to Saha. A direct hit would've had Hetmyer out but the relay into the gloves keeps the door ajar long enough for Hetmyer to stretch his bat across the line.

RR 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st2JC ButtlerYBK Jaiswal
2nd2JC ButtlerD Padikkal
3rd43SV SamsonD Padikkal
4th8SV SamsonR Parag
5th59SV SamsonSO Hetmyer
6th47SO HetmyerDC Jurel
7th10R AshwinSO Hetmyer
8th8TA BoultSO Hetmyer

Indian Premier League

TeamMWLPTNRR
GT14104200.809
CSK1485170.652
LSG1485170.284
MI148616-0.044
RR1477140.148
RCB1477140.135
KKR146812-0.239
PBKS146812-0.304
DC145910-0.808
SRH144108-0.59