PBKS vs GT Highlights, IPL 2024: 3 moments that generated buzz among fans in Match 37
The Gujarat Titans (GT) earned two crucial points with a three-wicket win over the Punjab Kings (PBKS) in Mullanpur on Sunday, April 21. The Shubman Gill-led side are now placed sixth in the points table while PBKS are struggling in the ninth spot and are on a four-match losing streak.
With Shikhar Dhawan still dealing with a shoulder injury, stand-in skipper Sam Curran opted to bat first after winning the toss. A brisk cameo by Prabhsimran Singh was the lone positive takeaway for the hosts in the entire innings. The rest of the side had no reply to GT's spin trio and could manage only 142 in the first innings.
It was far from a routine chase as GT were made to grind hard for their runs. PBKS showed some spirit with the ball to make regular breakthroughs in the middle overs. GT's middle order crumbled and needed rescuing from Rahul Tewatia in the end.
On that note, let us take a look at three moments that generated buzz among fans in the PBKS vs GT IPL 2024 contest.
#1 Jitesh Sharma and Sai Kishore's short-lived contest
Once GT's lineup revealed three frontline spinners, their matchup against PBKS' middle order was going to be crucial in deciding the game's fate.
After the wrist spin duo of Noor Ahmad and Rashid Khan had inflicted some serious damage to reduce PBKS to 74-3 after 10 overs, left-arm spinner Sai Kishore was unleashed.
Jitesh Sharma welcomed the new spinner into the attack with a huge six down the ground. Sai Kishore had fired it in at 101 kmph, and the wicket-keeper batter, in desperate need of a boundary after a sluggish start, was only happy to oblige.
Sai Kishore brought control back with two dot balls, then proceeded to outfox and deceive Sharma for his first wicket of the evening. The left-arm spinner floated the ball up, drawing Sharma out, only for him to miss contact with the ball entirely. The ball went on to hit the top of leg stump and prolonged Jitesh's horrid form with the bat.
#2 GT strike gold with their reviews in the space of six balls
It was not a contest for the umpires to remember as they struggled to get their calls right. GT's decision-making with their reviews played a huge role in restricting PBKS to 142 in the first innings.
The first of the two huge calls made by Shubman Gill and GT came off the last ball of the seventh over. Noor Ahmad had trapped Rilee Rossouw LBW with the googly, but the umpire was apprehensive because of the batter's stride which could have affected the impact.
Replays showed that the slog sweep completely missed the ball and everything was aligned in place for three reds as GT got their second wicket.
In the very next over bowled by Rashid Khan, PBKS skipper Sam Curran was also trapped LBW. Again, the umpire was in doubt regarding where the ball pitched on the back of the GT appeals. Curran had missed the ball while trying to flick it behind square, and Gill once again went upstairs for the review.
The on-field umpire was wrong on this occasion as well, since the replays showed that the ball did pitch in line, and the rest was customary to send Curran back to the pavilion. The twin strikes reduced PBKS to 67-3.
#3 Tewatia crushes PBKS' hearts for the umpteenth time
Rahul Tewatia has been the bane of PBKS' existence for a few years now. From the onslaught against Sheldon Cottrell to Odean Smith in recent years to the final over exploits of last year, the all-rounder did not miss out on an opportunity to dent PBKS' chance of a win.
The left-handed batter came into bat when the chase was in a tricky situation at 103-5 in the 16th over. With GT needing 38 runs off the final four overs, the game was hanging in the balance. However, Tewatia got rid of all the nervous energy around the venue by settling the game single-handedly in the 18th over. He took on Kagiso Rabada and scored 20 runs, and the chase turned out to be somewhat of a cakewalk after that.
Fittingly, it was Tewatia who had the final say after scoring a four off Arshdeep Singh to seal the match with five balls to spare. He remained unbeaten on 36 runs off 18 deliveries with seven fours to his name.