Sai Sudharsan’s composed 57, complemented by the early strikes of Mohammed Siraj, Jason Holder and Kagiso Rabada, helped Gujarat Titans secure a last-over four-wicket win over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Chasing a slightly sluggish 164 on a slow surface, the Titans reached the target with calm decision-making, with Sudharsan steering the chase on 41 balls.
Punjab had been powered by a lively 57 from debutant Suryansh Shedge, but Gujarat’s pace attack tightened the screws after getting them to 47 for five in 8.4 overs. Despite the pressure, Punjab finished on 163 for nine. The chase then turned into a duel of half-centurions, with Sudharsan finishing the job to place Gujarat among the winners.
The outcome kept Gujarat at five points on the table, while their points total rose to 12. Punjab, meanwhile, held on to the top position for now with 13 points.
Punjab innings: a fast start, then a fight back
- After the innings began on a pitch that played slower than usual, Punjab found it hard to get going once Gujarat’s bowlers struck early.
- Mohammed Siraj set the tone right away by removing Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly in successive balls in the opening over.
- Arya cut Siraj straight to Gujarat’s debutant Nishant Sandhu in the deep, while Connolly was caught behind after nicking one to Jos Buttler.
- Kagiso Rabada then kept the tempo high, with Prabhsimran Singh failing to deal with Rabada’s 152 kmph pace and scooping the ball to Manav Suthar inside the circle.
- Jason Holder continued the control by unsettling Nehal Wadhera and Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer with disciplined bowling.
- Wadhera edged one to Buttler, and Iyer couldn’t find the third-man area before being trapped—Holder removed him with a chop back onto the stumps.
- As Punjab’s innings slipped into disarray, Marco Jansen provided momentum late by striking a couple of big hits in the final over off Rashid Khan to lift Punjab past the 160-run mark.
- Even so, Punjab’s recovery largely depended on Shedge, who put together a well-constructed effort that helped them reach 163 for nine.
Shedge’s innings measured 29 balls and proved pivotal in a 79-run stand for the sixth wicket alongside Stoinis (40). Often known for “firefighting” in Mumbai’s domestic setup, he brought that calm approach into this match—never forcing shots and accepting Gujarat’s superiority on the surface and the lines they bowled.
Still, when the moment opened up, Shedge made it count. In Manav Suthar’s 14th over, he struck 6, 6, 4, 4, 6 to hammer 26 runs and reach his fifty in just 24 balls.
However, his stay ended soon after. Rabada struck again, bowling him through the stumps after Shedge edged to Jos Buttler behind the wickets, as Punjab once more lost their way.
Gujarat chase: Sudharsan steadies it after Gill’s early exit
- Punjab began the chase with an early breakthrough: skipper Shubman Gill was dismissed soon after start, falling to Arshdeep Singh.
- Sudharsan then took command and built a crucial platform, sharing a 53-run partnership for the second wicket with Jos Buttler.
- Buttler was the more aggressive partner, scoring 25 and striking key blows by dismissing Marco Jansen and Xavier Bartlett for sixes, including a daring scoop over the wicketkeeper.
- Despite Buttler’s impact, he couldn’t convert the momentum further—he was caught at the infield off Vyshak Vijayakumar, with the catch taken by Shreyas Iyer.
- Sudharsan continued undeterred, reaching his third fifty of the season off 37 balls.
- He celebrated with two fours off Yuzvendra Chahal, but a pull off Vyshak Vijayakumar ended in the ropes, caught by Bartlett.
- With late wickets adding tension, Gujarat required 11 runs off the final over after Rahul Tewatia’s dismissal.
- Washington Sundar—remaining unbeaten on 40 off 23 balls—finished the chase by hitting a scooped six off Marcus Stoinis to seal the win.
