Hardik Pandya’s overconfidence sinks in Gujarat! Mayank was teased before the match, his pride was shattered by the defeat.
Hardik Pandya, the captain of Gujarat Titans riding on the Vijay chariot, looks a bit over-confident. In the match against Punjab Kings, he elected to bat after winning the toss. In front was Mayank Agarwal who lost the toss for the 8th time out of 10. As soon as Murali Karthik told who won the toss, Pandya got excited and started teasing Mayank. Then he moves towards Kartik and says that he doesn’t think the dew will have any effect. Pandya was proved wrong here. Kagiso Rabada (4/33) reversed his captain’s bad luck with a brilliant bowling. Punjab’s South African pacer Rabada took four wickets in an innings of an IPL match for the sixth time. Due to which Punjab Kings stopped the in-form Gujarat Titans on a normal score of 143/8, which was the lowest score of this new team of IPL. After this, thanks to the half-century innings of Shikhar Dhawan (62 * runs, 53 balls, 8 fours, 1 six), Punjab Kings won their fifth victory by holding the five-match victory chariot of Gujarat Titans.
Hardik’s preparation for India
At the start of the league, all eyes were on the performance of Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya, who returned to the field through the IPL after recovering from injury. People wanted to see if they would get to see the old ‘Tabtod Hardik’ in the league? But the fans got to see even better Hardik in this league. Hardik won everyone’s heart with his responsible innings and proved his fitness as well. He also held the ball in difficult times and bowled tightly. Now Hardik’s eyes are set on a strong return to Team India. He also confirmed this during the toss against Punjab Kings. Regarding his bowling, he said, I am close to achieving my full rhythm of bowling, but will avoid bowling for the time being given the condition of the team. IPL is important but being prepared for Team India is even more important.
#GujaratTitans have won the toss and they will bat first against #PBKS.
Live – https://t.co/LcfJL3lO5i #GTvPBKS #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/Dy1oulrRdE
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 3, 2022
Livingstone smoked it all
The target in front of Punjab was not very big but Mohammed Shami gave strength to Gujarat’s hopes by running Jonny Bairstow (1) in the third over. However, Shikhar stuck a peg at one end. He got good support from Bhanuka Rajapaksa (40 runs, 28 balls) and the two put together a partnership of 87 runs off 59 balls for the second wicket to put the team on the road to victory. During this partnership, Shikhar completed his 47th half-century of IPL in 38 balls in the 12th over.
After breaking the partnership with Rajapaksa, Shikhar formed an unbroken partnership of 48 runs off 24 balls with Liam Livingstone. Livingstone played a big role in this partnership. He finished the game in the 16th over after scoring 30 not out off 10 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes). During this, Livingstone hit Shami for three consecutive sixes in the 16th over and scored 28 runs in that over.
Sudarshan saved the honor
Rabada made his IPL debut in the year 2017 and since his debut, no other bowler has been able to take four wickets in innings more than him. Despite Rabada’s sharp bowling, if Gujarat reached this respectable score, then the biggest contribution in it was left-handed batsman Sai Sudarshan, who came on the field in the third over and scored 65 runs in 50 balls while remaining not out.
