Gujarat Titans (GT) were defeated by Punjab Kings (PBKS) by 11 runs in a high-scoring match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, March 25.
Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to field first on what appeared to be a great batting pitch. Prabhsimran Singh got out cheaply, but Priyansh Arya and skipper Shreyas Iyer put on a 51-run stand off 21 balls. Once Arya got out for 47 off 23 balls, Azmatulla Omarzai, Glenn Maxwell, and Marcus Stoinis were unable to do much harm.
Talking Points
1. Captain’s knock by Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas accepted the responsibility to lead Punjab to a gigantic total. He received superb support from Shashank Singh, who acclimatized to the conditions in a matter of moments. The two batsmen smashed the Gujarat bowlers, putting together an unbeaten 81-run stand off merely 28 deliveries. The penultimate five overs of the innings fetched 87 runs. Shashank finished on 44 not out off 16 balls.
While that was happening, Shreyas dethroned his highest score in the IPL, scoring 97 not out off 42 balls. R Sai Kishore was the best of the bowlers for the home team as he returned with the figures of 3/30 from four overs.
2. Gujarat’s strong start falls short
In pursuit of a massive target of 244, Gujarat required their budding openers Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan to come out guns blazing. They did the same as they played some elegant shots to hit a 61-run partnership within the powerplay. Glenn Maxwell was brought in to bowl, and the risk yielded results as Shubman succumbed while going for a huge shot.
Despite a good powerplay partnership between Gill and Sudharsan, and then an 84-run partnership between Sudharsan (74 off 41) and Jos Buttler, Gujarat couldn’t chase the giant total. The required run-a-ball never arrived in the last overs, and they were 12 runs short.
3. Arshdeep Singh’s clutch bowling seals the win
With Gujarat requiring 27 off the final over and seven wickets remaining, Arshdeep Singh performed under pressure. He gave away only 15 runs, picked up two vital wickets, and ended with the figures of 2/36, showing why he is Punjab’s ace bowler in tight situations.
Who Said What?
Shubman Gill, GT Captain said
I think we got our chances when we were bowling and batting. Too many runs were given away. We let ourselves down on the field as well. Those three overs in the middle when we scored 18 runs, that and the first three overs we didn’t score too many runs. That costed us the game.
Many positives as well. Good start to the tournament I guess. (on Vyshak) Never easy for someone to come in as an Impact player and bowl those yorkers when you have been on the bench for 15 overs. Credit to them for bowling yorkers on the trot. I mean it is always a good batting wicket here to bat on. You might score 240-250, but you have to restrict the opposition as well.
Shreyas Iyer, PBKS Captain and POTM said
Getting 97 not out in the opening game of the season for us is the icing on the cake. I got a four the first ball I faced and it got me going. That flick six off Rabada as well. 44 runs he (Shashank) scored off 16-17 balls was pretty crucial for the team. We set a benchmark that we had to go for it. With the dew coming things could change and thankfully he performed. (on Vyshak) He is a funny character. He has got traits in him where he comes in with the right attitude. He bowled the yorkers straightaway. Kept his calm and composure. Arshdeep played an important role in that (the wide yorker plan).
He came in and said the ball is actually reversing a bit so the saliva on the ball is helping the bowlers a bit I guess. He got Sai and that changed the momentum for us and then he came in and said let’s start the wide yorkers earlier than trying it too late. Before the season started we left no stone unturned. In our meetings everyone chipped in with what we can execute on the field and it wasn’t just me talking. We look to carry forward the momentum into the other games as well.
India
