GT vs PBKS: Shikhar Dhawan, Kagiso Rabada star as PBKS stun table-toppers Gujarat Titans
India Today
IPL 2022, GT vs PBKS: Punjab Kings put up a clinical display to defeat top-ranked Gujarat Titans at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday. Shikhar Dhawan and Bhanuka Rajapaksa were calm in chase of 144 for PBKS after Kagiso Rabada destroyed GT with figures of 4 for 33.
Punjab Kings defeated Gujarat Titans by 8 wickets at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday. GT are on top of the points table in IPL 2022 and were favourites ahead of the match, but Kagiso Rabada (4/33) starred with the ball for Punjab before Shikhar Dhawan (62*) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (40) aced a middling chase of 144. Once the stage was set, Liam Livingstone came to the party, blasting Mohammad Shami for 28 runs in the 16th over to seal the deal for Punjab. Livingstone stayed not out at 30 off just 10 balls and hit the biggest six of the tournament against Mohammad Shami, which got recorded at 117 meters.
Shikhar Dhawan was brilliant for PBKS - he hit his third half-century of the season and ensured there were no problems for his side.
Gujarat Titans, in their first season in the IPL, have been in brilliant form but they were bailed out of trouble by their lower-order batters. David Miller, Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan have been superb for the Titans, but none of them could do anything with the bat on Tuesday.
PBKS were ruthless in their approach. They have a negative net run-rate and they were determined to win big to improve their prospects of a berth in the playoffs. They now have 10 points from 10 matches and would consider themselves firmly in the running for the playoffs after this victory. Gujarat Titans, who lost only their second match of the season, are still comfortably on top of the table.
After Hardik Pandya won the toss and decided to bowl, Gujarat Titans got off to a rather poor start. Shubman Gill was run out cheaply while Wriddhiman Saha fell after a brisk start. Hardik Pandya, David Miller and Rahul Tewatia flopped for the Titans and it was left to Sai Sudharsan (64 not out) to steer GT to a decent 143 for 8 at the end of their 20 overs.
PBKS lost Jonny Bairstow early in their chase of 144 when he top-edged a Mohammed Shami delivery and was caught by Pradeep Sangwan at deep fine leg. Jonny Bairstow was sent up the order to open with Shikhar Dhawan but there was no change of fortune for the England start who has had a poor season so far.
It was again up to Shikhar Dhawan who is among the highest run-scorers this year in the IPL to play the lead role as PBKS sought a much-needed victory. Bhanuka Rajapaksa was as explosive as he has always been and proved to be the perfect partner for Dhawan who deployed a mix of caution and aggression.