IPL 2022 | Workhorse KG, clinical Dhawan stifle GT, as Hardik Pandya-led unit has a woeful day

Table-toppers Gujarat Titans' five-match winning streak in the ongoing season of the IPL finally came to a halt on Tuesday (May 3) night as they endured an eight-wicket mauling at the hands of the Punjab Kings' at the DY Patil Stadium. 

Having scripted multiple final over run-chases, GT skipper Hardik Pandya decided to throw a different challenge to his batters as he asked his men to bat first.

The move backfired substantially, though; barring Sai Sudharsan, who scored an unbeaten 50-ball 65, none of the GT batters, including skipper Hardik, were up to the task.

Shubman Gill's poor form reached another nadir as he ran himself out for a 6-ball 9. Wriddhiman Saha played some delightful strokes during his 17-ball 21 but eventually perished in an attempt to loft Kagiso Rabada on the up.

It continued to go from bad to worse for GT as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Hardik nicked off the bowling of Rishi Dhawan for a 7-ball 1, while David Miller (11 off 14), Rahul Tewatia (11 off 13) and Rashid Khan (0 off 1) couldn't wield their magic either.

Sudharsan, meanwhile, played some whopping strokes during his 50-ball 65, and it was largely because of his efforts that Gujarat were able to post 143/8 in 20 overs.

KG Rabada proved to be the pick of the bowlers for Punjab. The Proteas speedster finished with 4 wickets and gave away just 33 runs in 4 overs. His double-wicket over in which he dismissed both Tewatia and Rashid ultimately made a difference between PBKS chasing 170 to what they eventually chased.

The Titans needed heaps of wickets in the powerplay to have any chance of making a match out of it.

And, while they did dismiss Jonny Bairstow courtesy of Mohammed Shami in the 3rd over, an 87-run-stand between Shikhar Dhawan (62* off 53) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (40 off 28) and a brisk cameo from Liam Livingstone (30* off 10) ensured that PBKS romped home with plenty of wickets and overs still in their kitty.

Brief Scores:

Gujarat Titans- 143/8 (20)

Sai Sudharsan 65* (50); 

Kagiso Rabada 4/33 (4), Liam Livingstone 1/15 (2.3)

Punjab Kings - 145/2 (16)

Shikhar Dhawan 62* (53), Bhanuka Rajapaksa 40 (28);

Lockie Ferguson 1/29 (3)

Punjab Kings won by 8 wickets.