Shalom Dsouza anchors Titans as Rameez Nawab’s heroics fall short in thrilling contest
- September 21, 2025
The You Selects Indian Premier League 2025 (Open) delivered a gripping encounter at DCS You Selects Arena 1, where Cara Gujarat Titans overcame You Selects Kannur Squad by 21 runs. The game had everything—early wickets, middle-order resilience, a stunning counterattack, and disciplined bowling. Titans set a challenging 181/6, thanks to consistent contributions, before holding their nerve as Kannur rallied late but fell short at 160/8.
The Titans made a purposeful start after opting to bat. Tanish Suri gave them momentum with a crisp 23 off 16 balls, striking boundaries with intent. After his dismissal, Shalom Dsouza played the anchor role to perfection, compiling 49 off 42 balls. He combined patience with timely aggression, striking three fours and two sixes to steady the middle overs. Nilansh Keswani added a handy 29, working the ball around to rotate strike and keep the innings moving. Their partnerships ensured Titans always stayed ahead of the curve.
The real push came in the death overs when Ayaan Misbah smashed 30 off 15 deliveries, injecting much-needed acceleration. Even as wickets fell, Rashid Rasheed and others chipped in to keep the total climbing. A significant boost came from Kannur’s indiscipline, conceding 27 extras, which inflated the final score. While Rameez Nawab tried to keep things tight with his 3/24, the Titans’ batting depth shone through. By the close of 20 overs, the Titans had piled up 181/6, a target that gave their bowlers plenty to defend.
The chase began in disastrous fashion. Openers and key middle-order batsmen fell cheaply, with the scoreboard reading 20/4 inside four overs. Captain Ansar Hashiz’s early exit added to the collapse, and Kannur looked completely out of the contest. Vinu Vijayan fought hard with 32 off 21 balls, playing some crisp shots, but his dismissal left the Squad struggling at 80/7. It seemed like the innings would fold tamely.
Then came the remarkable counterattack. Rameez Nawab produced a breathtaking unbeaten 61 off 26 balls, hammering nine boundaries and two sixes at a strike rate of 234.62. His clean hitting revived hopes, and along with Mohammed Rizwan Sabir (16*), he dragged Kannur back into contention. However, the required rate proved too steep, and despite Nawab’s brilliance, Kannur could only manage 160/8 in 20 overs. The Titans’ bowlers held firm, with Hardik Pai’s 2/20 in four overs playing a decisive role. Ultimately, Kannur’s top-order collapse left too much for the lower order to repair.
Star of the Match – Shalom Dsouza
Cara Gujarat Titans
Anchored the innings with a steady 49 off 42 balls, balancing patience and aggression to keep Titans in control throughout the middle overs.
Master Blaster – Rameez Nawab
You Selects Kannur Squad
Lit up the chase with 61* off 26 deliveries, smashing nine fours and two sixes, almost pulling off the impossible for his side.
Power Arm – Hardik Pai
Cara Gujarat Titans
Finished with figures of 4-0-20-2, removing Saad Khan and Shahnawaz Khan, bowling with precision and economy to keep Kannur on the back foot.
Safe Hands – Banty Nandi
Cara Gujarat Titans
Rewarded for his outstanding fielding efforts, saving crucial runs in the deep and lifting the team’s energy levels with sharp athleticism.
“Our batting depth gave us the edge, and the bowlers executed perfectly under pressure. A complete team effort brought us this result.”
Kiran Pethani
Captain – Cara Gujarat Titans
“Losing early wickets cost us heavily, though Rameez was exceptional. We’ll regroup, learn from this, and come back stronger in the next game.”
Vinu Vijayan
Captain – You Selects Kannur Squad
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