WATCH: Sanju Samson ignores Hardik Pandya’s staredown during IPL 2023 clash between Rajasthan Royals and Gujarat Titans

Gujarat Titans (GT) locked horns against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad on Sunday, April 16. The Royals won the match by 3 wickets and Shimron Hetmyer was awarded the Player of the Match for his match-winning performance. In the match between the Rajasthan Royals (RR) and the reigning champion Gujarat Titans (GT), on Sunday, Sanju Samson simply lifted the risk by striking the ball with brutal force.

Samson and Pandya engaged in a heated staredown as RR tried to reach the difficult 178-run target set by the hosts in Ahmedabad. When the RR captain was leading the batting charge of the RR, weeping and struggling Pandya engaged in an intense exchange with Samson. Social media users have taken notice of the footage of the match which is less widely recognized.

Watch it here:

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Sanju Samson and Shimron Hetmyer guided Rajasthan Royals to victory

If we talk about the encounter, the RR skipper, Sanju Samson won the toss and elected to ball first. Batting first, GT scored 177 runs for the loss of seven wickets after the completion of the first innings. The highest scorer for the home side was David Miller, who scored 46 runs off 30 balls with three fours and two sixes. Star India opener, Shubman Gill also scored crucial 45 runs from 34 balls with four fours and a six. In the end, Abhinav Manohar scored a quickfire knock of 27 runs off just 13 balls which included three sixes in his innings.

For the visitors, the pick of the bowlers was Sandeep Sharma, who snapped two wickets in his spell of four overs where he conceded 25 runs in his spell. One wicket each was grabbed by Trent Boult, Adam Zampa, and Yuzvendra Chahal who conceded 41 runs, 32 run, and 36 runs respectively in their spells.

RR chased down target on the second ball of the 20th over. The highest scorer for the side was Samson, who scored 60 runs from 32 balls with six massive sixes and three fours. In the end, Hetmyer played an unbeaten knock of 56 runs off just 26 balls with five brilliant sixes and two fours.