In their 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) match, Gujarat Giants defeated Punjab Kings by 6 wickets thanks to 67 not out from Shubman Gill.
Mohit Sharma’s stunning IPL return and Shubman Gill’s 49-ball 67 propelled the Gujarat Titans to a six-wicket triumph over the Punjab Kings on Thursday. With a return performance of 2/18, medium pacer Mohit helped holders GT limit PBKS to 153 for eight. Mohit, making his first appearance in the league since 2020, bowled a brilliant final over, allowing only six runs. After losing to Kolkata Knight Riders in a painful fashion four days prior, GT got to bat and was driven by Gill’s superb half-century as they chased down 154 in 19.5 overs. Mohit, who also participated for the Indian national team in tournaments like the World Cup, showed great control over his pace and length throughout his tenure while serving as the team’s net bowler last year.
Later, the youthful Gill again displayed his superiority with seven fours and a six in an excellent inning.
After losing their skipper Hardik Pandya with 48 runs and a win in the last over still needed in 34 balls, it was crucial for GT that Gill batted through to the end.
Matthew Short struck 36 (off 24 balls) to lead PBKS, but it was Masood Shahrukh Khan’s 22 (off 9 balls) that got them over the 150-run mark.
Using the powerplay to their advantage, GT scored 56 runs in the first six overs.
While everything was going on, Kagiso Rabada, the lead pacer for PBKS, became the quickest player in IPL history to reach 100 wickets when he had Wriddhiman Saha caught at deep square leg off a short ball for 30 runs off 19 deliveries.
The South African whiz got there six games faster than Lasith Malinga, who needed 70 games.
Earlier, PBKS lost Prabhsimran Singh in the second ball of the over when his attempted flick off a length delivery from Mohammed Shami went straight to Rashid Khan at short midwicket. PBKS were sent in to bat after the coin landed in favor of the returning GT skipper Hardik.
Prabhsimran left without tying the game.
When Short came in at number three, he promptly hit a boundary by hitting the ball past the point boundary. The next delivery was short, and Short slapped a four off the bat of the veteran India seamer by driving the ball through the square leg.
Shikhar Dhawan, who has been in fine form recently, greeted Joshua Little, who was bowling the new ball along with Shami, with two boundaries. While the first was lofted over cover, Dhawan produced an excellent shot with the next, a high-class cover drive that caressed the ball past mid-off.
Short, an Australian batsman who has excelled for the Adelaide Strikers in the domestic Big Bash League, faced off against Shami and blasted him for two consecutive fours, the second of which was a commanding shot through mid-off.
The dangerous Dhawan (8) came down the track to play the lofted shot, but he ended up throwing a catch to Alzarri Joseph, and Little delivered his team a significant breakthrough at a time when PBKS appeared to be putting GT under pressure.
PBKS was bowled out for 55 in the seventh over when GT’s go-to bowler Rashid (1/26 in 4 overs) used a googly to dismiss a well-set Short.
Short had finally calmed in after hitting a barrage of fours and a huge six off Joseph, but he looked befuddled when Rashid opted to bowl the wrong’un.
The loss of Short rattled PBKS, and when Jitesh Sharma (25 runs off 23 balls) was caught by Mohit off Wriddhiman’s fielding, things got much more complicated.
After ace leg-spinner Rashid misread his length, Sam Curran (22) smashed a massive maximum over deep midwicket for a much-needed six.
Joseph dismissed Bhanuka Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka after a lackluster 20 off 26 balls.
Shahrukh Khan hit a six over deep midwicket with the first ball he faced and followed that up with another six off Mohammed Shami.
