IPL 2022 | LSG vs GT | Lionhearted efforts by Gill, Rashid, Kishore thump LSG; Titans become first team to qualify for playoffs

Shubman Gill’s compact 63 off 49 deliveries and lionheart effort by Rashid Khan, Yash Dayal, and Sai Kishore have helped the Hardik Pandya-led unit become the first team this season to qualify for playoffs.

On Tuesday (May 10) evening, Gujarat Titans handed Lucknow Super Giants an embarrassing 62-run loss in a low-scoring league game. 

Despite putting an under-par total on the board, Gujarat’s bowlers made the opposition batters look like a castle of cards as no LSG batter could last too long against the likes of Mohammad Shami, Rashid Khan, Yash Dayal, and Sai Kishore. 

Chasing 145 runs, KL Rahul and Co. never looked in line to chase down the total. Opener Quinton de Kock departed in the fourth over of the second innings, while KL Rahul followed suit in the fifth over. While the skipper got out to a bouncer, soon debutant Karan Sharma departed, leaving LSG reeling at 33/3 in the powerplay. 

While Deepak Hooda was holding one end, the GT spin attack led by Rashid made sure that Lucknow had no breather. The wily leg-spinner trapped a perfect web around the burly middle-order of Lucknow, making the batters look like a cat on a hot tin roof against his variations. 

Rashid, on the other hand, was well supported by the debutant, Kishore, who first took Ayush Badoni in his first-ever IPL over before taking another scalp in the form of Mohsin Khan. 

As the middle and lower-middle order saw a heartbreaking collapse, Lucknow’s misery ended on 82 after playing just 13.5 overs, with Hooda being the lone warrior with a 26-ball 27. 

Earlier in the day, after opting to bat first, the Titans too got off a poor start as the side struggled against the pace trio of Dushmantha Chameera, Mohsin Khan, and Avesh Khan. 

Wriddhiman Saha, the first Titan to fall, was undone by a cutter from Mohsin, which he tried turning the legside but couldn’t handle the steep bounce. Next in line was Matthew Wade, making his return to the side. The Australian batter looked good, smashing Chameera for two consecutive fours. However, he was dismissed by Avesh Khan in the fifth over after being caught behind. And soon, the in-form Hardik Pandya was also sent packing on a mere 13-ball 11. 

Due to timely blows by LSG, the Titans were still sinking in deep water before David Miller held Gill’s hand in the middle. The Proteas batter continued his excellent form with the bat and added 50 crucial runs for his team with the GT opener. However, that 52-run stand between the duo was finally broken by Holder, as Miller was caught at third man while attempting to take down the tall pacer. 

As soon as Rahul Tewatia arrived at the crease, Gill reached his fourth half-century of the season, which came in 42 balls with five cracking boundaries. And a late flourish by GT’s finisher helped them put an adequate total of 144 runs on the board. 

Brief Score: 

Gujarat Titans - 144/4 (20)

Shubman Gill 63* (49), David Miller 26 (24); 

Avesh Khan 2/26 (4)

Lucknow Super Giants - 82/10 (13.5)

Deepak Hooda - 27 (26), Avesh Khan 12 (4)

Rashid Khan 4/24 (3.5), Sai Kishore 2/7 (2)

Gujarat Titans won by 62 runs.