In the intense 17th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Punjab Kings (PBKS) faced off against Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing a formidable target of 200 runs, Punjab clinched the win by three wickets with a ball to spare. Heroes of the day, Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma snatched victory from the jaws of Gujarat. Shashank remained unbeaten scoring a quickfire 61 off 29 deliveries, while Ashutosh chipped in with a spirited 31 from 17 balls.
The chase had a shaky start as Punjab lost captain Shikhar Dhawan early for 13 runs to Umesh Yadav. Jonny Bairstow played a few charismatic shots but failed to convert his innings into a big score. Noor Ahmad dismissed both Bairstow and Prabhsimran Singh, applying pressure on Punjab's batting line-up.
Punjab stumbled further, losing Sam Curran, Sikandar Raza, and Jitesh Sharma cheaply. At one point, they were precariously positioned at 150 runs for six wickets down. But it was the duo of Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma who turned the game on its head. Ashutosh, playing as the impact player, slammed three boundaries and a six in his cameo.
The Final Over's Edge-of-the-Seat Drama
The drama unfolded in the last over where Punjab needed seven runs to win. Ashutosh Sharma got out on the very first ball bowled by Darshan Nalkande, who then went on to bowl a wide. With five balls left, Punjab needed six runs. Harpreet Brar could not score off the second ball but managed a single on the next, handing the strike to Shashank Singh who smacked a boundary on the fourth delivery. The thrilling final over concluded with a leg bye on the last ball, securing a win for Punjab Kings.
Punjab Kings' Scorecard: 200/7 in 19.5 overs
Captain Shubman Gill's Blistering Knock
Gujarat, batting first after losing the toss, posted 199/4 in their 20 overs. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with an explosive 89 off 48 balls, studded with six fours and four sixes. Sai Sudarshan contributed a quick 33 off 19 balls, while contributions from Kane Williamson (26) and an unbeaten 23 from Rahul Tewatia bolstered Gujarat's innings. For Punjab, Kagiso Rabada claimed two crucial wickets.
Gujarat Titans' Scorecard: 199/4 in 20 overs
Top IPL 2024 Scores
89* by Shubman Gill vs Punjab Kings, Ahmedabad 85 by Sunil Narine vs Delhi Capitals, Visakhapatnam 84* by Riyan Parag vs Delhi Capitals, Jaipur 83* by Virat Kohli vs Kolkata Knight Riders, Bangalore 82 by Sanju Samson vs Lucknow Super Giants, Jaipur
Both teams made significant changes to their playing XI for this encounter. Punjab brought in Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza to replace Liam Livingstone, who was injured in the previous match. Gujarat introduced Kane Williamson in place of David Miller.
In the IPL history so far, Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings have played four head-to-head matches, with both sides securing two wins each. Their previous meeting on the Mohali ground had gone in favour of Gujarat Titans by six wickets.
Gujarat Titans' Playing XI:
Shubman Gill (c), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Sai Sudarshan, Ajmatullah Omarzai, Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Darshan Nalkande.
Impact Player:
Mohit Sharma
Punjab Kings' Playing XI:
Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sikandar Raza, Sam Curran, Shashank Singh, Harshal Patel, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh.
Impact Player:
Ashutosh Sharma
