Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill felt relieved that his side didn’t lose focus during a lean chase on a demanding surface. Chasing 164 against Punjab Kings, the table-top contenders, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, GT sealed the job on the very next-to-last delivery of their innings.
Gill pointed out that this was the sort of wicket where batters can’t simply rush through overs and finish quickly. With Gujarat having already won their previous three matches, he said the team were mindful of the challenge and were just targeting the two points.
Quick facts
- Gujarat Titans chased 164 to beat Punjab Kings
- Match was played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- GT won off the penultimate ball of their innings
- Gill’s team had won three straight games heading into the chase
- Washington Sundar finished the match unbeaten on 40 off 23 balls
- Winning margin: four wickets
- GT recorded their sixth win in 10 games and stayed fifth on the points table
- Next match: Gujarat play Rajasthan Royals on Saturday
Gujarat’s chase didn’t flow smoothly, with wickets tumbling at regular intervals. Rahul Tewatia’s dismissal came off the final ball of the 17th over, leaving 24 needed with five wickets remaining, a situation that looked like it could let Punjab squeeze the contest.
Just when it threatened to tighten up further, Washington Sundar stepped in and kept the chase alive. Gill credited the India allrounder for delivering at a critical phase, explaining that the pitch made quick acceleration difficult.
Sundar’s finishing touch
Sundar came in at No. 5 and remained unbeaten on 40 from 23 balls, guiding GT to the target with four wickets in hand. On a tough wicket, the left-hander struck at 173.91—standing as the highest strike rate for a Gujarat batter in the team during the match.
His innings featured five boundaries and a six, providing the momentum required after the late wobble. Gill also underlined the thinking behind the chase strategy, saying it was not the kind of track where you typically finish in a short burst of 15 or 16 overs.
In his view, the plan was to bat through a bit longer—either an over earlier or a couple of overs sooner—depending on how the set batter was going. He added that once a batter is settled, it becomes more sensible to keep going rather than trying to force everything from ball one.
Gill also noted that the ball wasn’t behaving the same way as it does on easier wickets, which made timing and hitting far more demanding. Still, he felt fortunate to have Sundar available, and said the allrounder ultimately wrapped up the chase for Gujarat.
Coming into this result, GT were already in a strong run of form, having beaten Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings in their previous two outings. While Sunday’s victory didn’t move them up the standings—they remained fifth—it strengthened their play-off prospects.
It was Gujarat’s sixth win from 10 games, a return that keeps their campaign firmly in the contest. Next up, they face Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, and with the momentum they’ve built, they will be keen to extend the streak.
