“Mohammed Shami was running into me and telling me Rashid Purple Cap” 

Gujarat Titans footballer Rashid Khan has revealed Mohammed Shami’s message to him in the race for the purple cap in the ongoing IPL 2023 tournament.

The defending champions beat Rajasthan Royals by nine wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur on Friday, May 6.

Rashid Khan dismantled the Royals’ middle order with his miserly spell of 3 for 14 from four overs. The titans’ vice-captain caused the sackings of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ryan Parag and Shimron Hetmir as the hosts were bowled out for 118 in 17.5 overs.

Rashid Khan now has 18 wickets in 10 matches at 17.89 in IPL 2023 so far. He got even with Gujarat Titans fast bowler Mohammed Shami, who picked just one wicket last night. Both of these titans bowlers are leading the wicket-taking charts this season and will be contenders for the Purple Caps.

Speaking to his Titans teammate Noor Ahmed in a video clip posted on the official website of IPL, Rashid Khan said:

“When I got the third wicket, he was running up to me and saying to me: ‘Purple cap….purple cap…Rashid’s purple cap. He knew better than me that it was going to be a purple cap. I don’t have it in my mind that I should get the purple cap'” .

Khan detailed his spell that helped the Titans pull off a convincing victory to retain their place as the leaders of the table. he added:

“It was more about me bowling good spaces and good lengths. That was the kind of mentality. On these wickets if you miss your line and your length it becomes very easy for the batsman.”

Gujarat Titans have the first place in title defense mode

Gujarat Titans are back to winning ways after losing to Delhi Capitals by five runs in Ahmedabad. The team led by Hardik Pandya managed to retain the top spot in the points table after defeating their final opponent in the 2022 tournament in Jaipur.

The Titans have won 7 of their 10 league games so far and have 14 points. They’ve only lost to Royals, Capitals, and Knight Riders so far.

Gujarat will take on the Lucknow Super Giants on Sunday, May 7, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.