Punjab stuttered a bit within the last over, needing simply 7 off 6 balls, when Punjab pacer Sam Curran clear bowled Gill with the second supply. The scenario modified to a precarious 4 off 2 balls, however Rahul Tewatia (5*) held his nerves to hit a 4 over quick leg fielder to finish the chase with a ball to spare.
As it occurred: Punjab Kings vs Gujarat Titans
Gill, who smacked a six and 7 fours in his 49-ball knock, performed a measured knock and saved one finish intact for the Titans.
Chasing a under par 154-run goal, the right-hander gave the Titans a flying begin with Wriddhiman Saha (30 off 19 balls) because the duo added 48 runs in simply 4.4 overs. After Saha turned the a hundredth IPL wicket for Kagiso Rabada within the fifth over, Gill stitched a 41-run stand with Sai Sudharsan (19) to regular the run chase.
Harpreet Brar eliminated Titans skipper Hardik Pandya (8) within the fifteenth over to provide Punjab a glimmer of hope, however Gill stood tall to take his group dwelling.
Medium pacer Mohit marked his IPL comeback with figures of two/18 as holders Titans restricted Punjab to 153 for eight.
Playing in his first recreation within the league since 2020, Mohit was distinctive within the penultimate over, making a gift of as little as six runs.
When their flip to bat got here, Gill led the best way along with his high quality half-century, 4 days after struggling a heartbreaking loss to Kolkata Knight Riders.
Having carried out obligation because the group’s internet bowler final season, Mohit, who has additionally performed for the Indian group together with within the World Cup, combined his tempo and diversified his lengths effectively all through his spell.
From Titans’ viewpoint, it was extraordinarily vital that Gill stayed on until the top, particularly after the dismissal of Hardik with the group nonetheless 48 runs away from their third victory in 34 balls.
For Punjab, Matthew Short top-scored with a 24-ball 36 nevertheless it was Masood Shahrukh Khan’s nine-ball 22, which helped the group cross 150.
Titans have been off to a flyer and scored 56 within the six powerplay overs with Gill going nice weapons.
Meanwhile, Punjab’ lead pacer Kagiso Rabada turned the quickest to 100 wickets within the IPL, when he had Saha caught at deep sq. leg off a brief ball.
The South Africa speedster took simply 64 video games to succeed in the landmark, six matches fewer than Lasith Malinga’s 70.
Earlier, despatched in to bat after the coin landed in favour of the returning Titans skipper Hardik, Punjab misplaced Prabhsimran Singh within the second ball of the over when his tried flick off a size ball from Mohammed Shami went straight to Rashid Khan at quick midwicket.
Prabhsimran departed with out scoring.
Short walked in at quantity three and he obtained off the mark with a boundary, hanging the ball by level. The subsequent ball was quick, and Short pulled the seasoned India seamer by the sq. leg area for one more 4.
Sharing the brand new ball with Shami, Joshua Little was welcomed with two boundaries by the in-form Shikhar Dhawan. While the primary one was lofted over cowl, Dhawan produced a pleasant shot within the subsequent ball, caressing the ball previous mid-off in what was a high-class cowl drive.
Australia’s Short, who has carried out effectively for Adelaide Strikers within the Big Bash League again dwelling, took on Shami and hit him for back-to-back fours together with an authoritative boundary by mid-off.
However, simply when Punjab gave the impression to be placing Titans below stress Little gave his group an enormous breakthrough, dismissing the damaging Dhawan (8) who got here down the observe to play the lofted shot, solely to finish up giving a catch to Alzarri Joseph.
Titans obtained one other massive wicket when the ever-reliable Rashid (1/26 in 4 overs) foxed a well-settled Short with a googly with Punjab’s rating studying 55 for 3 within the seventh over.
Having struck a flurry of fours and a large six off Joseph, Short had settled down properly however regarded clueless when Rashid determined to bowl the incorrect’un.
Short’s dismissal set Punjab again a bit, and it turned trickier when Jitesh Sharma (25 off 23 balls) was despatched again by Mohit, due to a sensible piece of labor by Wriddhiman behind the wickets.
Sam Curran (22) struck a much-needed six — an enormous most over deep midwicket after star leg-spinner Rashid missed his lenTitansh.
Sri Lankan Bhanuka Rajapaksa didn’t persuade in his 26-ball 20, till his keep within the center was lower quick by Joseph.
Shahrukh Khan smashed the primary ball he confronted for a six over deep midwicket, earlier than choosing up one other most off Shami.
(With inputs from PTI)
Watch Shubman Gill shines as Gujarat Titans beat Punjab Kings by 6 wickets
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com