Krishnappa Gowtham produced a blinder of a knock after Sanju Samson and Ben Stokes smartly negotiated a slow track as Rajasthan Royals pulled off a nail-biting three-wicket win over Mumbai Indians on Sunday night.
The pitch was not conducive for stroke-making but Samson (52) and Stokes (40 off 27) added 72 runs for the third wicket to push their side close to the finish line and the hosts eventually crossed it with two balls to spare.
Gowtham conjured up an unbeaten 11-ball 33-run knock under pressure, hitting two sixes and four fours to seal a thrilling win for his side.
It was not a big target on board as the hosts chased 168 but the wicket had slowed down considerably and required a lot of patience to score runs.
Samson was in control of his innings but Jasprit Bumrah (2/28) dismissed him and Jos Buttler in successive balls in the 17th over to raise MI’s hopes. When Samson got out, Royals required 43 runs from 22 balls.
It became 28 from 12 after Gowtham found a six and a four off Mustafizur Rehman. The Karnataka batsman in the company of Jofra Archer found scored 18 runs from Bumrah’s next over and needed 10 from the last for a thrilling win.
Hardik Pandya was given the ball and removed Archer in the first ball but Gowtham steered the next ball for a four in the third-man region and finished off the match in the fourth ball with a gigantic six.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Krishnappa Gowtham’s bliz:
You little ripper @gowthamyadav88
Well done buddy – just awesome to watch & congrats to all the @rajasthanroyals boys – we never ever give up ! So proud of you all !!!! See you in a few days !— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) April 22, 2018
Krishnappa Gowtham🔥🔥💥
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 22, 2018
Well played Rajasthan 👏👏💯💯
What a way to finish!
Unstoppable @gowthamyadav88Congratulations to @rajasthanroyals#RRvMI #JazbaJeetKa #HallaBol #VIVOIPL @IPL @ajinkyarahane88#RjAlok
— RJ ALOK (@OYERJALOK) April 22, 2018
K Gowtham , what a blinder that was. Paisa vasool . This was a much needed victory and @rajasthanroyals have won in style. Heartbreak once again for the Mumbai Indians #RRvMI
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 22, 2018
Krishnappa Gowtham was bought for 6.2 crores in the auction.
Wondering why?
He's proved it tonight! #RRvMI
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 22, 2018
Needed 38 off 14 balls .. 5 wkts down .. & my boys win it with 2 balls to spare .. !!!!! Go on @rajasthanroyals #ipl2018 #Gowtham
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 22, 2018
#RRvMI
Gotham gave us Batman.
Gowtham gave us Batsman.— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) April 22, 2018
Got to feel for MI. That was an absolute blinder from Gowtham. 👏👏👏#Ipl2018
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 22, 2018
K Gautham….this one is for the keeps. Kitna Cool…pura paisa vasool 😊🙌🙏 #RRvMI #IPL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) April 22, 2018
Stunning knock by Gowtham. Who would've thought RR would win?! 4th time Mumbai lose in 20th over this IPL. Rohit has lots to ponder over
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 22, 2018
Rajasthan is the hero Gowtham deserves. Or maybe the other way round.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) April 22, 2018
Krishnappa Gowtham! Flavour of the night. #RRvMI
— Venkat Parthasarathy 🇮🇳 (@Venkrek) April 22, 2018
He's been a fantastic buy for #RajasthanRoyals, this Krishnappa Gowtham. He'd been tracked by quite a few franchises and showed his value today. 33(11)!!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 22, 2018
Not a great start for Mumbai Indians #IPL2018 pic.twitter.com/SnmapCELEc
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 23, 2018
What a blitz by Gowtham… Irrepressible temperament under pressure! Rajasthan needed 38 runs off 14 balls; end up winning with 3 balls remaining… Most of my friends on TL were rooting for Mumbai. Tough luck.. #RRvMI #IPL2018
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) April 22, 2018
What an innings, K Gowtham. 33 in 11 balls. pic.twitter.com/uABvU4XOeK
— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) April 22, 2018
I Repeat! Mumbai Indians Ke Saath Hmesha Prank Hota Hai. Till 19th Over They're Winning; Comes 20th, They Lose. 😂#RRvMI #RRvsMI #MumbaiIndians
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) April 22, 2018
4 losses, 4 heartbreaks, all in the final over. 🙁#CricketMeriJaan #MumbaiIndians #RRvMI pic.twitter.com/rEcrQpBZGS
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) April 22, 2018
Our Royal, @gowthamyadav88 finishes off in style.
Remarkable 3⃣ wicket win by the Royals 🔥#RRvMI #JazbaJeetKa #HallaBol #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/lSasAGbUu5
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 22, 2018
https://twitter.com/ImRTripathi/status/988131173229527041
Take a bow, Krishnappa Gowtham#IPL2018 #RRvMI #MIvRR pic.twitter.com/KgQyGTuXm3
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 22, 2018