The Gujarat Titans defeated Lucknow Super Giants in the first-ever Indian Premier League game for both teams. Mohammed Shami, David Miller and Rahul Tewatia played for GT at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, although LSG suffered from a bizarre captaincy from KL Rahul, who persevered against two aggressive batters with spinners despite struggling for the slower bowlers.
After choosing Bowl, the Gujarat Titans had Lucknow Super Giants on their necks thanks to Mohammed Shami, who picked three wickets in a three-over spell with the new ball. KL Rahul was out for a golden duck before Deepak Hooda and Ayush Badoni scored half a century to bail LSG out of trouble and give their bowlers something to work with.
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The Gujarat Titans lost Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar early on, but skipper Hardik Pandya stabilized the innings with Matthew Wade falling in quick succession. David Miller and Rahul Tewatia then used the conditions to take full toll on the LSG spinners to get GT within reach of the LSG standings.
The Gujarat Titans needed 11 before the final and Abhinav Manohar hit the limit on the first two balls to ease the equation for his team. Lucknow Super Giants fans would have been stunned when their top bowler, Dushmantha Chameera, ended up bowling just three overs from his full quota of four.
CHAMEERA BACK GT
Dushmantha Chameera rocked the Gujarat Titans in their chase as he sacked Shubman Gill in the first over and defeated Vijay Shankar with an absolute ripper. Chasin 159, GT was 15 for in 2.1 overs before Hardik Pandya came out with an aggressive intent. Matthew Wade at the other end looked solid without doing anything out of the ordinary, but it was clear this pair had to do something significant before David Miller and Rahul Tewatia could tee off in order.
KRUNAL outsmarts Hardik
Looking dangerous, Hardik Pandya picked up the attack on Dushmantha Chameera and even hit a well-timed six in front of Ravi Bishnoi, but his progress was stopped by his older brother Krunal. Arriving in 4th place, Hardik appeared to be in good contact but struggled to get going against Krunal who ended up dismissing his younger brother. The two pandyas had represented Mumbai Indians for years and played a pivotal role in the franchise.
Shortly after Krunal sacked Hardik, Deepak Hooda snapped up Matthew Wade to put LSG firmly at the top.
EXCITING MOMENTS
The run rate soared for the Gujarat Titans and at the kink were two dangerous batsmen – David Miller and Rahul Tewatia. The two left-handed batsmen happily accepted offers from Deepak Hooda and Ravi Bishnoi, who were kept in attack, although one wondered why LSG captain KL Rahul Dushmantha Chameera failed to bowl one of his two remaining overs. Spinner wasn’t easy at this stage and it seemed like Rahul waited too long to get Chameera or maybe Avesh Khan, who also had two overs left by the end of the 17th over of the GT innings.
Avesh was brought back into attack in the 18th over, sending David Miller straight back and the match was now temptingly even as the Gujarat Titans needed 21 balls from 15.
RAHUL’S HORROR START
KL Rahul had a nightmarish start as captain of the Lucknow Super Giants. He repelled a delivery by Mohammed Shami to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade from the first ball of the first game for LSG and Gujarat Titans. This was Rahul’s first duck 56 innings in the IPL. He had won the Orange Cap in 2020 and was the third-highest run scorer in 2021 behind Ruturaj Gaekwad and Faf du Plessis. Interestingly, Gaekwad was sent off with 0 points in Chennai Super Kings’ loss to Kolkata Knight Riders in the season opener.
The sacking of KL Rahul triggered a collapse of the highest order for LSG, even before the likes of Lockie Ferguson and Rashid Khan came to bowl.
SHAMI ON FIRE
Mohammed Shami, who was having an ordinary time at the T20 World Cup, cast a sensational opening spell for the Gujarat Titans in their opening game against the Lucknow Super Giants on Monday. He removed KL Rahul with the first ball of the game before dismissing the dangerous Quinton de Kock with a peachy delivery. Shami also helped GT defeat Manish Pandey – he played away from his body and was totally at sea against a delivery coming in from the fourth stump.
HARDIK BOWLS, FINALLY!
After much speculation, Hardik Pandya attacked and bowled with speed and fire. He clocked 139 km/h in his first over, a decent one that yielded just 1 run for LSG. Hardik had not bowled in IPL or international cricket for a while. He threw a few overs in the T20 World Cup but looked like a pale version of himself.
Many pundits in the cricket fraternity believe Hardik Pandya can return to billing for the Indian team if he resumes bowling. It was an encouraging sight for fans across the country to see Hardik Pandya rush in and bowl with such fire.
However, Hardik’s numbers were ruined in his final when he conceded 19 runs. Hardik ended 0 for 37 from 4 overs.
LSG HOLDS BACK
Deepak Hooda led a sensational fightbak for the Lucknow Super Giants after the top order against Mohammed Shami imploded. After being called upon to bat, the Lucnow Super Giants in dire distress had lost KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, Evin Lewis and Manish Pandey before the power play. It looked like the Gujarat Titans were going to flip LSG for not much on the board, but Hooda and Ayush Badoni had other ideas. The two quickly added 87 for the 5th wicket to get LSG back on track in the game.
Badoni, a 22-year-old batsman from Delhi, scored fifty points in his IPL debut
Krunal Pandya, GT Captain Hardik’s older brother and now a key member of the LSG, also fired all weapons further down the line.
RASHID EYES PURPLE
Rashid Khan, one of the strongest T20 bowlers in the world, has been named vice-captain of the Gujarat Titans. Afghan Leg Spinner now shoots at the Purple Cap. Rashid Khan, who made his IPL debut in 2017, has won 93 wickets from 76 games so far.
“It’s always good to have that cap but beyond that I’ll try to contribute whatever the team needs from me and if that’s point balls then I’ll do that – it’s something I’ll have more in mind It’s been a long time since I had this cap. In my first game in 2017, I had this cap and I’ve never had this cap since, but it will definitely feel great to have it,” Rashid Khan told broadcasters ahead of the start of the GT vs. LSG game on Monday .
