IPL 2023: Shubman Gill, Rahul Tewatia help Gujarat Titans seal last-over thriller against Punjab Kings

Synopsis: Despite a late lull in the run chase, seamless Shubman Gill anchors Gujarat Titans to victory after strong bowling performance against Punjab Kings.
As Punjab Kings walked out to defend the well-below-par total of 153 in Mohali on Thursday, skipper Shikhar Dhawan knew early wickets were imperative. He had a solid, varied bowling line-up to work with, but buoyed form and confidence, the Gujarat Titans top order took them apart.
At the heart of it was Shubham Gill, the freshly-anointed prince of all-format batting in India. Even as Wriddhiman Saha took the responsibility of being the early aggressor – hitting a 19-ball 31 that would prove to be the springboard as Gujarat notched a six-wicket win with a ball to spare – the magnetic ease of Gill’s strokeplay was on full display.

!@rahultewatia02 does a Rahul Tewatia‼️
He smashes the winnings runs for @gujarat_titans 👌 👌
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/RkqkycoCcd #TATAIPL | #PBKSvGT pic.twitter.com/LMLGnRn7Kd
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 13, 2023
Arshdeep Singh would hang a ball full outside off: crunched between cover and extra cover. Kagiso Rabada would hit the deck hard and go into his pads: flicked beyond mid-wicket for four. Harpreet Brar would attempt to turn one but leave it short and wide: effortlessly cut beyond point.
Gill would eventually go on to score 67 from 49 balls. It was the kind of anchor innings made feasible due to a modest target, a solid score in a routine chase on a decent batting wicket. But this innings was further proof of the talent that he possesses. It is easy for hype to build in the wake of all that he has already achieved this year – international centuries in each format – but even those who are trying desperately not to get carried away would not be able to help themselves if they merely sat in front of the screen and watched Gill bat.
Dhawan, who to his credit, used his bowling options smartly in trying to defend a low total, would introduce spin to try to catch Gill and Sai Sudharsan out after the Powerplay. In the ninth over, impact player Rahul Chahar floated one short and wide. Gill hung on his strong back foot and perfectly timed a late cut for four. Shortly afterwards, he went fuller, and Gill charged down the track and lifted it for a boundary over extra cover. Two shots, a few balls apart, that perfectly encapsulate the range and adaptability that Gill boasts of. The hype is well deserved.

A last-over finish yet AGAIN! 👌 👌
It’s the @gujarat_titans who hold their nerve against the spirited @PunjabKingsIPL ! 👏👏
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/RkqkycoCcd #TATAIPL | #PBKSvGT pic.twitter.com/jYOqN5GBtK
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 13, 2023
Tewatia the finisher
Towards the end of Gujarat’s run chase, a couple of wickets fell and there was a nervy period when David Miller struggled for connection, and Gill’s strike rate seemed a bit too slow. The latter would still find the right shot at the right time, unfurling a lofted four against Chahar again, or seamlessly slapping Rabada for a six over deep square leg to keep the chase well within range, but the end, they still had work to do.
Gill did not shoulder much of the blame – Sudharsan, Hardik Pandya and David Miller scored a combined 45 runs from 49 balls – to take the run chase deep. Thereon, it was a piece of brilliant death bowling from Arshdeep and Sam Curran, conceding 9 runs from 10 balls and the latter picking up Gill’s wicket.

WHAT. A. SHOT! 👌 👌@ShubmanGill hits a maximum to edge @gujarat_titans closer to the target 🎯
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/RkqkycoCcd #TATAIPL | #PBKSvGT pic.twitter.com/PBLfnkMjYi
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 13, 2023
Tewatia would then play the role that he has played to perfection over the last few seasons. He would first get a proactive run from a leg-e as Miller was beaten on the fourth ball of the last over, and then, under pressure, coolly move across the stumps and lap-sweep the ball over fine-leg for four to win a game Gujarat very nearly threw away.
Well-rounded Gujarat bowling
Punjab’s batting in their first few matches had been largely dependent on Dhawan, who departed in the Powerplay alongside fellow opener Prabhsimran Singh, and the lack of intent and execution from their middle order told its tale.
Matthew Short’s 24-ball 36 gave Punjab a solid start to work with, but after Rashid Khan knocked over his stumps with a googly that he looked to cut, none of Punjab’s batsmen were able to pick up the pace.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Jitesh Sharma and Curran all faced at least 20 balls each, but none had a strike rate higher than 108. Titans skipper Pandya was smart in applying the squeeze, using his varied bowling line-up well keeping runs at a minimum not feeling the need to save Alzarri Joseph and Mohit Sharma for the death and letting them stall Punjab’s faltering middle order.

An impressive first game in @gujarat_titans colours for Mohit Sharma 👏👏#TATAIPL | #PBKSvGT
Relive his economical spell here 🎥🔽 https://t.co/jSQYV67aoo
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 13, 2023
Mohit made a remarkable comeback – his first IPL match since 2020 – going for 2-18 and using his variations – slower ones and wide yorkers – to establish himself as the pick of the Gujarat bowlers. Veterans making a comeback, as opposed to youngsters taking their chance, seems to be the norm at the IPL so far.
A late blitz from Shahrukh Khan, who hit two sixes and a four in a nine-ball 22, ensured a somewhat respectable total. But Punjab were always 30-odd runs short to have any confidence in defending it successfully, adding more concern about where the runs will come from for the rest of this season if not from the top three. The return of Liam Livingstone can’t come soon enough.