A Resounding Return to Form
In a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Rajasthan Royals’ new recruit Ravi Bishnoi proved exactly why he remains one of the most dangerous leg-spinners in the country. During the high-stakes clash against Gujarat Titans, the game hung in the balance. The Titans were chasing a daunting 211, and with B Sai Sudarsan well-set at the crease, the momentum appeared to be shifting in favor of the chasing side. However, the 11th over marked the arrival of Ravi Bishnoi, who effectively turned the match on its head with a display of clinical bowling.
Mastery of Lengths: The Key to Success
Bishnoi finished his spell with impressive figures of 4 for 41, earning the Player-of-the-Match award. In his post-match interview, he was candid about the struggles he faced during the 2025 IPL season. Reflecting on his resurgence, he credited a holistic approach to his craft: ‘Last season was difficult. But I tried to stick to my processes. I had one weakness: if my length was wrong then I was getting hit for fours and sixes. That’s what I was trying to rectify. I played a whole season of domestic cricket and worked on perfecting my lengths.’
He emphasized that his improvement was not merely technical. ‘Mental, technical and physical… I worked on all three aspects. I’ve been putting the physical work too, in off-season, between games and in domestic cricket,’ he added.
Strategic Planning Against Gujarat Titans
The transformation from a difficult 2025—where he managed only nine wickets in 11 games at an economy of 10.83—to his current form for the Rajasthan Royals, who picked him up for INR 7.20 crore, is a testament to his dedication. Against the Titans, his plan was meticulously crafted. Recognizing the presence of multiple left-handed batters and the dimensions of the field, Bishnoi utilized his googlies to great effect.
‘One side of the field had a longer boundary, and they had a lot of left-hand batters, so I was trying to bowl googlies to them from middle and leg, which would make it difficult for them to go over the leg side—the longer side,’ Bishnoi explained. ‘A couple of their batters fell in that trap too. The plan for the left-hand batters was to take the ball away and try to make them hit to the longer side. Both Sai and Washy were dismissed like that.’
The Crucial Wicket of Rahul Tewatia
While his dismissal of Sai Sudharsan, Glenn Phillips, and Washington Sundar set the foundation for the Rajasthan Royals’ victory, Bishnoi identified the wicket of Rahul Tewatia as his personal highlight. In a high-pressure situation, Bishnoi delivered a back-of-a-length googly that forced a top edge, which was safely pouched by wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel.
‘My favourite wickets were all four, but Rahul bhai’s wicket towards the end was important since it came at that particular time,’ Bishnoi noted. ‘He is known to be a finisher. If he hadn’t gone out, the game could’ve gone any direction.’
Closing the Deal
Ultimately, it was a team effort that sealed the win. While Bishnoi provided the middle-overs stranglehold, Tushar Deshpande took responsibility for the final over. Bowled under extreme pressure, Deshpande delivered a masterclass in death bowling, landing consecutive yorkers to concede just four runs and secure a six-run win for the Royals. With Bishnoi finding his rhythm and the team firing on all cylinders, the Rajasthan Royals look like a formidable force as the tournament progresses.
