In a much-awaited match of the Indian Premier League, defending champions Gujarat Titans defeated Lucknow Super Giants by a whopping 56 runs on Sunday. The Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya came out as the hero of the match, as he not only led his team to an easy win but also won the battle of brothers with his LSG counterpart Krunal Pandya.
The match was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, where the Titans put up an all-round performance to clinch their eighth win of the season.
Titans’ Dominating Performance
With this win, Gujarat Titans consolidated their top spot in the standings, having 16 points from 11 games. They are three points ahead of second-placed Chennai Super Kings, who have 13 points from 11 games. LSG, on the other hand, suffered their fifth loss but still managed to remain third in the points table with 11 points from 11 games.
In the first inning, the Titans put up an imposing total of 227 runs for the loss of only two wickets, thanks to the incredible performance of their openers, Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha. The pair set a solid foundation for their team by scoring 142 runs together, starting off aggressively at a rate of 13 runs per over during the powerplay.
Saha reached his fifty in just 20 balls, while Gill provided steady support and hit a six off Krunal Pandya in the sixth over. Saha continued to attack, smashing Mohsin Khan for several boundaries and sixes, enabling the defending champions to reach 50 runs in only four overs.
The duo’s century stand came up in the ninth over itself, and Saha looked set for his second IPL century. He was dismissed for a brutal 81 off 36 balls, striking an overall four sixes and ten fours. Gill finished close to what would have been a splendid maiden IPL century, hitting seven sixes and two fours in his 51-ball knock. Gujarat Titans also bettered their overall record of most runs in the powerplay.
LSG’s Struggle
LSG had a promising start while chasing a target of 228, reaching 102 for one at the halfway point. However, they struggled to score freely as the Titan’s bowlers maintained tight control over the subsequent overs. Despite impressive contributions from Quinton de Kock with a score of 70 in his first match of the season and Kyle Mayers with a quick 48 at the top of the order, LSG’s middle-order faltered under immense pressure during the daunting pursuit, ultimately leading to their defeat.
LSG struggled to score any fours during overs 11-14 as Gujarat took charge. In the 15th over, Mohit Sharma successfully caught Marcus Stoinis with a catch at short third man, further adding to LSG’s troubles. Later on, Rashid Khan managed to dismiss de Kock – who had been performing well with 70 runs off 41 balls, including three sixes and seven fours – while Noor Ahmad took down Nicholas Pooran, who only managed to score three runs.
Shubhman Gill – Player of the Match
.@ShubmanGill bags the 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 award following his scintillating 9️⃣4️⃣* off 5️⃣1️⃣ balls!
Take a bow, Shubman bhai! 🙇🏼#GTvLSG #AavaDe #TATAIPL 2023 pic.twitter.com/iy7gh4UrFF
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 7, 2023
Shubman Gill’s unbeaten knock of 94 off 51 balls was a class act, with the right-hander displaying a wide array of strokes around the ground. Gill, known for his elegant stroke play and impeccable timing, played some breathtaking shots throughout his innings. He was particularly severe on the LSG spinners, hitting them for a series of boundaries and sixes.
Gill reached his fifty off only 25 balls, hitting three fours and four sixes in the process. He accelerated even further, scoring 44 runs off his last 17 balls, including three more sixes. The 22-year-old’s innings was studded with a total of 9 sixes and 3 fours.
Gill’s performance was a timely reminder of his immense talent and potential, which had been somewhat overshadowed by the recent form of his opening partner, Wriddhiman Saha. With this knock, Gill also broke his own personal best score in the IPL, which was 76 not out.
Quinton De Knock Performance
A good start but we finished well short in the end. 😞 pic.twitter.com/36pmPcvlTD
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL) May 7, 2023
For LSG, Quinton de Kock’s innings of 70 was a standout performance. The South African wicketkeeper-batsman, who was playing his first game of the season, showed why he is regarded as one of the best T20 players in the world. He played some delightful strokes and looked in excellent touch before being dismissed by Rashid Khan.
Records
- Gujarat Titans’ total of 227 for 2 was their highest-ever in IPL since their debut last season.
- Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 94 off 51 balls is his highest score in the IPL, surpassing his previous best of 76 not out.
- Gill and Saha’s opening partnership of 142 runs is the highest for Gujarat Titans and the second-highest opening partnership of the season.
- Gujarat Titans’ overall score of 227 for 2 is the highest total of this IPL season so far.
- Saha’s fifty off just 20 balls is the fastest of this season and the third-fastest in the history of the IPL.
- With this win, Gujarat Titans have extended their lead at the top of the IPL 2023 points table.
Looking Ahead
With this win, the Gujarat Titans have firmly established themselves as one of the frontrunners for this year’s IPL title. They will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches and cement their place in the playoffs.
LSG, on the other hand, will need to regroup quickly and come up with a better plan if they are to avoid the wooden spoon this season. They have a tough schedule ahead, with matches against some of the top teams in the competition. It remains to be seen if they can bounce back from this defeat and turn their season around.
