Shubman Gill guides Gujarat Titans to victory over Punjab Kings

The reigning champions were comfortable, with Shubman Gill anchoring a chase that was rarely in doubt after Punjab struggled to accelerate through their innings

Nick Friend | 13/04/2023 at 19:06

Mohali: Punjab Kings 153-8, Gujarat Titans 154-4 - Gujarat Titans win by six wickets

Reigning champions Gujarat Titans eased to victory over Punjab Kings to move level on points at the top of the Indian Premier League table.

They were comfortable in chasing down a 154-run target, with Shubman Gill anchoring a chase that was rarely in doubt after Punjab struggled to accelerate through their innings.

Gill top-scored, with Wriddhiman Saha (30) giving Titans a flying start in the powerplay after Australian Matt Short had helped Kings to recover from losing Prabhsimran Singh (0) and Shikhar Dhawan (8) cheaply to Gujarat's new-ball pair of Mohammed Shami and Josh Little.

Short, signed as an injury replacement for Jonny Bairstow, hit six fours and a six in his 36 before being cleaned up by Adelaide Strikers teammate Rashid Khan to leave Punjab 55 for 3 in the seventh over.

Jitesh Sharma (25) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (20) rebuilt but both fell after eating up deliveries, while Sam Curran made a run-a-ball 22 before departing to the excellent Mohit Sharma as he looked to accelerate at the death.

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^{Sam Curran struggled to get going with the bat (Money Sharma/AFP via Getty Images)}

Shahrukh Khan gave the end of the innings vital impetus, hitting two sixes in a nine-ball 22, but Kings always looked short with their total.

Kagiso Rabada had Saha caught by Short to give them a belated breakthrough, and left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh saw off Sai Sudharshan for 19.

Three overs later, when Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya went for eight – a third single-figure score in a row – his side were in danger of making a mess of a dominant position.

But Gill powered through to make 67 and, though he was bowled by Curran in the final over, Gujarat got home with a ball to spare.