Opener Sai Sudharsan hit 82 as Gujarat Titans thrashed Rajasthan Royals by 58 runs to go top of the Indian Premier League.

The 23-year-old hit eight fours and three sixes from 53 balls, passing 50 for the third match in a row, before he was caught behind off the bowling of Tushar Deshpande in the penultimate over of his side's innings.

Chasing 218, the Royals slipped to 68-4 in their reply, and while Sanju Samson (41 from 28) and Shimron Hetmyer (52 from 32) offered the visitors some hope, they were ultimately bowled out for 159 in Ahmedabad.

Our coverage of the Indian Premier League continues on Thursday when Royal Challengers Bengaluru face second-placed Delhi Capitals (15:00 BST).

Gujarat Titans removed four top-order batters as Rajasthan Royals reached 85-4 at the halfway stage of their chase of 218.

• Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana fell for six and one respectively, both caught at deep third to leave the Royals 12-2 in the third over.
• Captain Sanju Samson helped them to 57-2 at the end of the powerplay, but saw Riyan Parag caught behind and Dhruv Jurel taken at mid-wicket.
• Samson has 29 off 23 balls, with Shimron Hetmyer on 12 from nine at the other end.

Image source, Getty Images

Sai Sudharsan scored 82 from the top of the order as Gujarat Titans set Rajasthan Royals 218 to win in Ahmedabad.

• Sudharsan hit eight fours and three sixes in his 53-ball 82 before he was caught behind off the bowling of Tushar Deshpande in the penultimate over of the innings.
• The 23-year-old, who has made four appearances for India, moved from fourth to second in the season's highest run scorers chart - he has now 273 from five matches, and has scored fifties in his last three matches.
• Sudharsan was one of two wickets to fall in Deshpande's over, with Rashid Khan striking 12 from four balls before being caught by a diving Yashasvi Jaiswal.
• Titans closed on on 217-6 after Rahul Tewatia hit a four off Sandeep Sharma's final ball.

Image source, Getty Images

Rajasthan Royals seamer Jofra Archer removed Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill for just two, but Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler added 80 for the second wicket to put their side in a strong position in Ahmedabad.

• England seamer Archer bowled India international Gill with the first ball of the third over to leave the home side 14-1.
• Buttler joined Sudharsan at the crease, and the pair reached 67-1 at the end of the powerplay.
• Sudharsan reached his fifty during Maheesh Theekshana's 10th over, bringing up the landmark from 32 balls.
• But Sri Lanka's Theekshana struck with the last ball before the drinks break, having Buttler dismissed lbw for 36 on review to leave the Titans 94-2 at the halfway stage.

Gujarat Titans welcome Rajastan Royals to Ahmedadad in Wednesday's Indian Premier League fixture, with the home side hoping to secure a win that will take them top of the table.

The home side have three wins and one loss from their first four games and currently sit second on net run-rate behind Delhi Capitals.

The Royals sit in seventh, having won two and lost two and they will field first after captain Sanju Samson won the toss at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The visitors have England seamer Jofra Archer in their ranks, while his former international captain Jos Buttler is in the Titans line-up.

Image source, Getty Images

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