Gujarat Titans registered a magical win on Sunday night, fighting their way out to clinch an unbelievable 6-run win in their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 campaign opener. Chasing 169, MI were very much on course to an easy win as Rohit Sharma set the base with a 29-ball 43 and then Dewald Brevis contributed with a 38-ball 46. They needed 48 runs in the last 6 overs and with 7 wickets remaining, a victory didn’t seem too far.
But MI’s batting strategy was foiled in the death as the GT bowlers chipped in, snatching away an easy-looking win from the opponents’ jaws. 11 dots and 6 wickets in the last 24 balls turned Gujarat’s fortunes as the team registered their first triumph under Shubman Gill. Mumbai were restricted to 162/9 and failed to break their opening game jinx. The last time they won their IPL opener was against Chennai Super Kings back in 2012.
Captain Hardik Pandya spoke to the broadcasters after the loss and pointed out the moment when the momentum shifted towards Gujarat Titans.
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“Obviously, we backed ourselves to chase those 42 runs but it was one of those days when we see the score quite less compared to what it could have been in five overs, I think we lost a little bit of momentum there,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation.
“It feels good to be back because this is one stadium where you can enjoy and feel the atmosphere quite lively and obviously the crowd was full and they got a good game as well. (On Tilak not taking the single vs Rashid) I think Tilak felt that that was a better idea at that point of time, I completely back him, not an issue, 13 games to go,” he added.
While spinners Rashid Khan (0/23 in 4 overs) and R Sai Kishore (1/24) gave very little with the ball despite the dew setting in, veteran Mohit Sharma (2/32) used his variations with different types of slower deliveries to turn the course of the match.
Spencer Johnson (2/25) and Umesh Yadav (2/32) were brilliant bowling the 19th and 20th over as Hardik Pandya relegating himself to No. 7 in the batting order is something that would need explanation. He did hit a six and four in the last over but Umesh had the last laugh.
(With PTI Inputs)
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