Gujarat Titans defeated Punjab Kings by four wickets in a last over thriller at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. The result gives Gujarat back to back wins and keeps them in the playoff race, while Punjab suffered another narrow defeat.
Gujarat Titans won the toss and chose to bowl first. Their bowlers made an immediate impact and controlled the early phase. Punjab Kings struggled to build momentum as wickets kept falling during the powerplay.
Punjab Kings lost their top order quickly and were reduced to 47 for 5 in nine overs. Captain Shreyas Iyer and other batters failed to contribute. Suryansh Shedge played a strong knock, scoring 57 runs from 29 balls.
Marcus Stoinis added 40 runs from 31 balls, but the scoring rate remained slow. Both batters added a 79 run partnership, yet it did not shift momentum. Marco Jansen chipped in with 20 runs to push the total to 163 for 9.
Gujarat Titans bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings. Jason Holder led the attack with four wickets. Mohammed Siraj picked up two early wickets, while Kagiso Rabada also contributed with two wickets.
Chasing 164, Gujarat Titans lost Shubman Gill early in the innings. Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler then built a steady partnership. Sudharsan scored a fifty and kept the chase on track despite regular wickets.
The match went down to the final over with Gujarat needing 11 runs. Punjab Kings still had a chance, but poor execution proved costly. Extra runs and lack of control made the difference in the end.
Arshad Khan hit a crucial boundary, and Washington Sundar finished the match with a six. Gujarat Titans secured the win with four wickets in hand in a tense finish.
Punjab Kings missed key chances during the match. Questions were raised on Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy and bowling changes. The top order collapse remains a major concern for the team.
Gujarat Titans are now placed fifth with 12 points and a negative net run rate. Punjab Kings remain at the top despite consecutive losses. The playoff race is getting tighter with each match.
