Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings Match Highlights & Results

Done with the double-header Sunday - It was a day where teams outside the top four got the better of those currently in the playoff spots, which certainly makes things interesting. Up next, it is a clash of the bottom dwellers on Monday, 4th May, as the Mumbai Indians lock horns with the Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium. It has been all doom and gloom for Mumbai, with just 2 wins from 9 games, while Lucknow come into this on the back of five straight defeats, but are coming off a break and will hope to start afresh. The game will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), but you can join us early for the build-up. Take care and goodbye!

Looking ahead - Back-to-back defeats for the Punjab Kings, but they remain at the top of the table. A trip to Hyderabad is up next for Shreyas Iyer and his men, where they will face the Sunrisers on Wednesday, 6th May. As far as the Gujarat Titans are concerned, they have a short break before their next assignment against the Rajasthan Royals in Jaipur on Saturday, 9th May.

The skipper of the Gujarat Titans - Shubman Gill says that they are peaking at the right time, but is quick to admit that in the chases, they would not like to take the game this deep, stressing winning more convincingly. He is happy with the two points. Adds that they always knew this was not the kind of wicket where they could chase it down in 15 or 16 overs, and that if someone is set, they should go deep. He points out that the length balls were not coming well on the bat, and it was important for the batter who was set to stay out there. He says they were lucky that Washington Sundar got the job done for them. On whether sending out left-handers one after another was a conscious effort, Gill denies that and shares that it was all about the situation they were in and wanted to pick the best batter for that moment.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Jason Holder gets the award for his heroics with the ball. He starred for the Titans with figures of 4/24 from his 4 overs. Jason says that Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj were outstanding upfront, which made his job easier in the middle overs. Mentions that his role was still about coming in and executing his plans. Holder mentions that over the last year and a half, he has mostly played T20 cricket and hasn’t featured much in Tests, but says that the chapter is not closed and he would still love to play the longer format. Jason admits he is a little disappointed not to have finished off the last couple of games, but feels things have been going well overall.

Time for the presentation ceremony...

Recovered but not enough - After being asked to bat first, Punjab found the Gujarat quicks too hot to handle. Mohammed Siraj set the tone early with a double strike in the opening over, and the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder followed suit to reduce Punjab to 47/5. Suryansh Shedge then produced a fine counterpunch with his maiden IPL fifty, with Marcus Stoinis providing support at the other end. A late push from Marco Jansen helped the Kings reach 163.

Partnerships do the job - The Punjab seamers could not replicate the damage done by their counterparts and were a touch too short with the new ball. After losing Shubman Gill early, Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler came together to provide GT with a solid start. PBKS did manage to apply the squeeze outside the Powerplay, but Sai held firm for GT, stitching partnerships throughout his stay. That meant the Kings couldn't pick up wickets in clusters. Sai's departure did inject some belief into the Punjab camp, especially given Gujarat's fragile middle order, but Washington Sundar stepped up and took the home side over the line.

GT's man of the moment - Washington Sundar says that they had to be calculative on this surface, and it was tough to score off hard-length deliveries. Adds that he looked to use the field smartly, and it worked out well for him. On the nerves in the last over, Washi mentions that Arshad is a strong hitter of the long ball, and the message was to stay calm and back his strengths. Further says that the boundary he struck early in the over was crucial.

The captain of the Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer says that 163 was a good score, especially on the pitch where the new ball was doing a fair bit and there was some help for the seamers as well. Credits the GT bowlers for making the best use of the surface, and highlights that they lost 3-4 wickets in the Powerplay. But mentions that getting to 160-plus from that position was a phenomenal effort by the middle order. Iyer says he thought Punjab would be able to hit line and length, be accurate and take wickets with the new ball but it did not work out. He gives full credit to the attitude and approach of his side but admits they missed on hitting the hard lengths. He adds that hitting over mid-wicket was not easy on this wicket given the variable bounce and that in terms of execution, Punjab fell short. On the table standings, he says Punjab are still top and will take positives from that. He says it shows the character of the bowlers that they wanted to win but it just did not click today. He adds that he is looking forward to their next game against SRH in Hyderabad. Adds that if the character is high and the attitude is right, the results will come eventually.

The Gujarat Titans get the job done - Another one of those middling totals they back themselves to chase, but this one got a bit too close for comfort. They will be relieved not to have botched it up. That's three wins in a row for the Titans now, with two of those coming against the top two teams, first RCB and now PBKS. Punjab Kings suffer their second straight defeat, but will take heart from the way they stretched the game as long as they did.

Marcus Stoinis to Washington Sundar, Six!SIX! Sundar stays calm under pressure and hits the winning runs! Stoinis tries the yorker once more but lobs up a juicy full toss on the stumps. Washington gets inside the line and drops to one knee and whips it over the deep fine leg fence for a six. Relieved faces in the GT camp as this is an important victory for them, having beaten the table toppers. GT BEAT PBKS BY 4 WICKETS!

Marcus Stoinis to Arshad Khan, 1 run.Well bowled! Good execution from Stoinis. Pinpoint yorker at the stumps from Marcus, Arshad Khan loses his balance to flick it away to the leg side, and inside edges on the boot. The ball rolls in front of the bowler and the batters decide to charge through for a single. Stoinis rushes forward, collects the ball and releases the throw to the bowling end, but misses his shy and Khan gets home with the dive.

Marcus Stoinis to Arshad Khan, No run.Play and a miss! Short ball, banged into the surface, angling across from off stump. Arshad swings hard, looking to slice it over point, but is beaten on the outside edge by a fair bit.

Marcus Stoinis to Arshad Khan, 2 runs.Just short! But an excellent piece of fielding by Suryansh in the deep! Pitched outside leg, on a fuller length. Arshad Khan again gets a good piece of wood on it. He flicks it aerially to the left of deep square leg. Suryansh Shedge runs and dives to his left, and half stops it on the bounce, parrying the ball away from him. Gets up and recovers very quickly. The batters cross over for the second run. Stoinis, by his expressions, wanted the fielder to be a bit finer than he was.

A long conference between Shreyas Iyer and Marcus Stoinis regarding the field setting.

Marcus Stoinis to Arshad Khan, Four!FOUR! Gets it away! Stoinis aims the toes and nails the yorker in, on the leg stump line. Arshad Khan gets the front foot across, his head falls over, but he jams it out. Gets it more off the inner half to the long leg fence for a boundary. GT need 6 runs from 5 balls now.

Marcus Stoinis to Arshad Khan, Wide!WIDE! Reload! Way, way too short into the pitch, takes pace off on middle. Arshad Khan lets it fly over his head. Wide called.

Right, time for the final over. Not quite sure how it has come down to this, but who's complaining? Punjab's frontline quicks have bowled out. Marcus Stoinis has been trusted to bowl the final over. The Titans need 11 runs from 6 balls.

Arshdeep Singh to Arshad Khan, 1 run.Excellent penultimate over from Arshdeep Singh. Just what you expect from your best bowler. Back of a length, wide outside off, Arshad Khan stands tall and swats it on the bounce to long on for a single. 4-0-24-2 for Arshdeep Singh. Gujarat Titans need 11 runs from 6 balls.

The Punjab Kings continue to fight. Arshad Khan walks out to the middle. Rashid Khan was also an option, but GT are trusting Arshad to do the job.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, OUT! c Cooper Connolly b Arshdeep Singh.OUT! SUPERB CATCH! Great pair of hands from Cooper Connolly and this game is far from being over. Good length, angling from middle to off. Jason Holder clears the front leg to heave it over the deep mid-wicket fence, but hits it off the inner half and hence, does not get the distance. Cooper Connolly charges to his left from deep mid-wicket, watches the ball like a hawk and takes a good diving catch. The big man cannot get the job done for his team. GT still need 12 from 7 balls.

Arshdeep Singh to Washington Sundar, 1 run.Still a single! Length ball, on off, skidding through. Sundar is rushed on the back foot and pulls it off the toe end to long on for only a run.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, 1 run.On a back of a length, closer to the body. Holder dabs it late and wide of backward point for a single. 13 needed off 9 balls.

Arshdeep Singh to Jason Holder, 2 runs.Had to really hurry there! From around the wicket, this is on a length, on off. Jason walks across and tucks it with soft hands into the mid-wicket region, and the call is for two straight away. Cooper Connolly from deep mid-wicket charges in off the ropes, picks the ball and throws it on the bounce to the keeper with Holder sprinting to complete the second run. Prabhsimran Singh collects the ball and whips the bails off, but Holder is in by then.

Arshdeep Singh to Washington Sundar, 1 run.On a good length, just outside off, Sundar punches it on the rise to long off for a single.

Arshdeep Singh (3-0-18-1) to bowl the penultimate over. How much can he leave for the final over?

Xavier Bartlett to Jason Holder, No run.Some elegant drives from Holder this over, but he does not get much. Pitched up, full on off, Jason plays the straight drive, but Bartlett stops it to his left on the follow-through. GT need 17 runs from 12 balls.

Xavier Bartlett to Jason Holder, No run.Much fuller than the previous ball, outside off, Holder leans across and presents the full face of the bat, driving it to cover. The fielder swiftly moves to his left and stops it.

Xavier Bartlett to Jason Holder, No run.Back of a length, around off, Jason drives on the up again, but finds the mid off fielder this time.

Xavier Bartlett to Jason Holder, 2 runs.Not too full and not too short either, outside off. Jason Holder leans forward and drives it crisply to the left of the cover fielder. Suryansh Shedge sprints to his right from deep point and cuts it off. Two taken. That was timed really well by Holder.

Xavier Bartlett to Washington Sundar, 1 run.A rib-tickler from Bartlett, short on leg. Sundar gets inside the line and pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Xavier Bartlett to Washington Sundar, Four!FOUR! Oh, that's hit right into the gap! Short of a good length over middle. Washington Sundar rises with the bounce, plays the pull shot along the ground and bisects the deep mid-wicket and long on fielders for a boundary.

Jason Holder walks in next.

Marco Jansen to Rahul Tewatia, OUT! c Xavier Bartlett b Marco Jansen.OUT! TAKEN IN THE DEEP! Jansen keeps PBKS very much alive. Rahul cannot quite believe it. Marco hits the hard length, keeping the line of attack around middle and off. Rahul Tewatia crouches a bit and tries to pull it over the deep square leg fielder, but ends up hitting it flat and straight into the safe hands of Xavier Bartlett stationed in the deep. Xavier does not have to move much and takes a watchful catch. The Titans are 140/5, needing 24 runs from 18 balls.

Marco Jansen to Washington Sundar, 1 run.Back of a length, this is clipped into the deep square leg region for a single.

Marco Jansen to Washington Sundar, 2 runs.Overpitched delivery, on middle. Sundar flicks it to the left of deep mid-wicket and they hurry for the second run. Priyansh Arya gets across and throws it to the bowler, which forces Tewatia to dive to get back home. He does so before Jansen collects and breaks the stumps.

Marco Jansen to Washington Sundar, Four!FOUR! Vijaykumar Vyshak's effort goes in vain. On a back of a length, on off. Washington Sundar walks inside the line and gets low to get under the ball. He plays the scoop and gets just enough bat on it to clear Vijaykumar at short fine leg. Vyshak goes after it and puts in a dive. He pulls it back but the ball threatens to trickle into the ropes. He tries to push it away again but at that moment, he was in contact with the ropes, and it has been given as a boundary.

Clean effort? Nope, Vijaykumar Vyshak was in contact with the boundary cushions when he pushed the ball away.

Marco Jansen to Washington Sundar, Four!FOUR! Off the edge! GT get closer and closer. Back of a length, nipping in from around off. Washington Sundar tries to hoick across the line but misreads the line and gets a leading edge and the ball goes to the left of the keeper, racing to the fence behind.

Marco Jansen to Rahul Tewatia, 1 run.Bashed on a length, angling on the leg stump. Rahul Tewatia presses forward and flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Marco Jansen (3-0-21-0) is back, with the Titans needing 36 runs from 24 balls.

Xavier Bartlett to Washington Sundar, No run.Slower short ball, angled across the batter. Sundar gets way across to play the pull shot, only to miss.

Xavier Bartlett to Rahul Tewatia, Leg bye.Spears it full and on the pads, pitching seemingly outside leg. Tewatia tries to play the pick-up shot, but misses, and the ball lobs off the front pad and drops in the short fine leg region. A slight appeal for LBW, but not given. They get a leg bye.

Xavier Bartlett to Rahul Tewatia, No run.Good length, on top of middle. Rahul plays it very late and chops it from the crease to short third. Tewatia is keen to pinch in a single and charges forward but is sent back in time by Sundar.

Xavier Bartlett to Washington Sundar, 1 run.Full and outside off, Sundar looks to drive it away, but gets a thick inside edge and the ball rolls through wide mid-wicket for a single.

Xavier Bartlett to Rahul Tewatia, 1 run.Short on the leg stump. Rahul pulls it behind to deep fine leg for a single.

Xavier Bartlett to Washington Sundar, 1 run.Hard length, around off, punched off the back foot to the mid off region for a single.

5 overs to go. GT need 40 runs from those. Xavier Bartlett is back on. 2-0-28-0 so far, and he replaces Yuzvendra Chahal.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Rahul Tewatia, No run.Goes past the bat! Nipping away off a good length. Rahul Tewatia is beaten on the block as the ball leaves him. Prabhsimran Singh fails to gather it cleanly and the ball pops out of his grasp and rolls to his right.

Big blow for the Titans as they lose the in-form Sai Sudharsan. It is now a big test for their middle and lower middle order to get the job done. GT use their impact sub. Rahul Tewatia is in at number 6, while Mohammed Siraj is subbed out.

Mohammed Siraj is substituted by Rahul TewatiaMohammed Siraj is substituted by Rahul Tewatia

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, OUT! c Xavier Bartlett b Vijaykumar Vyshak.OUT! CAUGHT! Sai Sudharsan holes out. He throws his head back in disappointment at not finishing the game himself. A well-directed short ball by Vyshak, around the left shoulder, Sudharsan pivots on the back foot for the pull but is rushed and he can't get the desired power on the shot. Xavier Bartlett hangs back on the ropes at deep mid-wicket. Bartlett gets his hands high and times the jump to perfection to take the catch over his head.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, 2 runs.Lands it on a hard length, on off. Sai hops to get on top of the bounce and he cuts it late to beat backward point to his left. Suryansh Shedge sprints to his right in the deep and gets rid of the ball quickly but can't prevent the batters from coming back for the second run.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Washington Sundar, 1 run.The length is pulled back now, on off, Sundar pats it in front of mid off and hurries to the other end.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Washington Sundar, Four!FOUR! Up and over! Fuller and wider on off. Washington Sundar is allowed to free his arms and he launches it over wide mid off. He does not quite get hold of it but manages to clear the in-field and pick up a boundary.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Across off, on a back of a length, that is punched off the back foot wide of cover for a single.

Gujarat Titans need 48 runs from 36 balls. And Vijaykumar Vyshak (3-0-23-1) is back into the attack, replacing Arshdeep Singh.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Serves the googly, shorter and on off. Sudharsan wrists it off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for one.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Sai Sudharsan, Four!FOUR! Put away, and that brings up the FIFTY for Sai Sudharsan. Full and down leg by Chahal, Sudharsan brings out the broom and he plays it all along the ground. Hits it fine of the man at deep backward square leg and picks up a boundary. 3rd fifty-plus score in the last 4 innings for Sai.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Washington Sundar, 1 run.On the pads, and the length stays short, Sundar clips it through square leg and crosses over.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Shorter and on middle. Sudharsan whips it to deep mid-wicket for one.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Sai Sudharsan, Four!FOUR! Gets it through! Very full, attempted googly by Chahal, on leg. Sai Sudharsan sinks to a knee for the sweep. Gets an under edge on it and the ball goes wide of short fine leg. Arshdeep Singh moves to his left and puts in a dive but the ball goes past him and trickles into the fence.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Sai Sudharsan, 2 runs.A bit of turn into the pads, slightly short on leg. Sudharsan presses back and plays it with soft hands in front of deep mid-wicket. He takes the first one hard and comes charging back for the second.

STRATEGIC BREAK! This game is nicely hanging in balance right now as the Punjab Kings have done really well to pull things back in this middle phase. And that too, despite Yuzvendra Chahal not having bowled a single over yet. Shreyas has trusted his pacers as there is a fair bit of nip and bounce and it's not been easy to go aggressive for the new batters. Gujarat Titans need 61 runs from 42 balls and they will bank their hopes on Sai Sudharsan to get the job done. But he will need solid support from the middle order. The Kings know that a couple of more wickets here will really tighten things further. And finally, Yuzvendra Chahal is introduced into the attack.

Arshdeep Singh to Washington Sundar, 2 runs.Fuller and angled into the pads. Sundar brings his wrists into play and works it wide of deep square leg. Xavier Bartlett mops it up by moving to his right in the deep. Two runs taken.

Arshdeep Singh to Washington Sundar, No run.Pushes the length up now, on off. Washington stays leg side of the ball and plays a punchy drive but he can't get it past the cover fielder.

Arshdeep Singh to Washington Sundar, No run.Over off, on the shorter side. Sundar rides the bounce and taps it to the man at a catching cover.

Arshdeep Singh to Washington Sundar, No run.In the channel on off, on a good length. Washington angles it straight to backward point with an open bat face.

Arshdeep Singh to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.At 132.1 kph, slanting in on middle and leg, on a short of a length. Sudharsan works it off the pads to deep mid-wicket and crosses over.

Arshdeep Singh to Washington Sundar, 1 run.Arshdeep rolls his fingers over the ball and delivers it on a back of a length, on off. Washington punches it to long on for a single. 100 UP FOR THE TITANS!

Marcus Stoinis to Washington Sundar, 1 run.Around leg, on a back of a length. Washington nurdles it off the hips in front of square on the leg side for a single.

Marcus Stoinis to Washington Sundar, Four!FOUR! Sundar is up and running! Pace off and going across the left-hander. Sundar hops and is airborne while playing the shot. He frees his arms and slaps it over backward point for a boundary to get going.

Marcus Stoinis to Washington Sundar, No run.Full and on middle, flicked to mid-wicket.

Stoinis strikes at a very crucial time for the Kings. Washington Sundar is in at number 5.

Marcus Stoinis to Nishant Sindhu, OUT! c Vijaykumar Vyshak b Marcus Stoinis.OUT! IN THE AIR AND GONE! Not the best of balls, but Marcus Stoinis won't mind it one bit. Dug in a bit too short and wide on off. Sindhu hops to flay it away but fails to get hold of it. Ends up slicing it off the lower half of the blade towards deep third. He gets the height but not the distance. Vijaykumar Vyshak moves to his left in the deep and takes a good running catch around his knee.

Marcus Stoinis to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Sudharsan backs away and Stoinis follows him with a short ball. Sai gets his hands high and pulls it firmly behind square leg. Arshdeep Singh is quick across the turf to his right and slides to parry it towards the converging Suryansh Shedge. Just a single.

Marcus Stoinis to Nishant Sindhu, 1 run.On any other day, that would have crashed back into the stumps. Just outside the off stump, on a good length. Sindhu gets the front leg out of the way and looks to thrash it through the off side. Gets an inside edge onto the back leg and he is called through for a single by Sai as the ball drops beside him.

That will ease a lot of pressure for GT. They manage to squeeze out a big over after a long time. Marcus Stoinis is back on.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, Four!FOUR! Flayed away! Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Sudharsan stands tall on his toes and slaps it over backward point to pick up a boundary. A much-needed over for GT. 14 runs off it. 72 needed off 54 balls.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, No run.Flirting with the tramline, on a good length. Sai hangs low and flashes but misses.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Nishant Sindhu, 1 run.Back to over the wicket, on a good length, on off. Sindhu punches it on the up in front of mid off and pinches a quick single.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Nishant Sindhu, Six!SIX! Sindhu goes big! Vyshak bangs it in short, on middle and leg. Nishant is quick to pick up the length and he swivels to pull it over square leg for a biggie. A boundary after 27 balls for GT.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Nishant Sindhu, 2 runs.From around the wicket for Sindhu, this is on a length, on off. Nishant swings at it. The bat turns in his hand and he miscues it off the inner half past mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Full and wide on off. Sai drives it to deep cover for a single.

Halfway through! After finishing the Powerplay at 58/1, GT have scored just 20 runs in the next 4 overs and also lost Jos Buttler. The last boundary came in the 6th over.

Marco Jansen to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Much fuller on off, Sai opens the bat face and dabs it to the right of short third for a quick single. At halfway, GT are 78/2.

Marco Jansen to Nishant Sindhu, 1 run.Straight up but lands safely! A well-directed short ball, on off and it keeps climbing. Nishant Sindhu is taken by surprise and gets in two minds whether to sway away or pull, and keeps his bat hanging up. The ball goes off the toe end and flies over to the deep fine leg region, landing safely in the deep. Arshdeep Singh collects the ball to his left on several bounces. They cross.

Marco Jansen to Nishant Sindhu, No run.Keeps it on the stumps, a touch fuller at 133.4 kph, Nishant watchfully blocks it back to the bowler.

Marco Jansen to Nishant Sindhu, 2 runs.In-between length, just outside off. Sindhu hangs back and crisply punches it through the cover-point gap. Vijaykumar Vyshak runs and dives to his left from deep backward point and cuts it off in the outfield. Two taken.

Marco Jansen to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Good length, outside off, Sudharsan uses the pace to guide it to deep third for a run.

Marco Jansen to Sai Sudharsan, No run.On a length, on middle and leg, flicked off the pads to short mid-wicket.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Back of a length, on the leg stump. Sai stays back and guides it to short fine leg for a single.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Nishant Sindhu, 1 run.Hard length, in the channel of off. Sindhu fends it into the ground and picks up a single to the point region.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Nishant Sindhu, No run.Nips in a long way from outside off, on a length. Nishant hangs back and stabs it to cover.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run.Fuller one, on off, Sai cracks the drive to pierce the cover gap, but the fielder dives to his left and parries the ball to mid off. One taken.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Nishant Sindhu, 1 run.First run for Nishant in IPL. Fuller in length, angled away outside off. Sindhu drives it to deep cover to get a single.

Nishant Sindhu walks out to bat on his IPL debut.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Jos Buttler, OUT! c Shreyas Iyer b Vijaykumar Vyshak.OUT! CAUGHT! A massive wicket for PBKS. Iyer is charged up, and so is Vyshak, who fishes out Buttler. Vijaykumar hits the hard length, around the top of off, Jos Buttler backs away a bit to create room, trying to lift it over the cover region, but the ball holds on slightly and arrives a fraction later than the Englishman expected. He shimmies down the track a bit but hits it off the toe end. It balloons over extra cover, where Shreyas Iyer moves to his left and takes the catch. Buttler knew it straight away. Gujarat Titans are 69/2, needing 95 more runs.

Back-to-back overs for the Punjab Kings without conceding a boundary. Still, the required run rate is under 8 for the Gujarat Titans with them needing 95 runs off 72 balls.

Marcus Stoinis to Jos Buttler, 1 run.Spotting Buttler shuffling outside leg, Stoinis bashes the length hard and follows the batter to cramp him for room. Jos tries to hit it to the off side, but gets an inside edge and the ball rolls through mid-wicket for a single. Just 5 singles off the over.