Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], May 30 : Shubman Gill, the batsman for Gujarat Titans and the holder of the Orange Cap in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023, believes that his hard work is paying off and he is heading in the right direction.
Gill concluded the IPL 2023 season with an impressive tally of 890 runs in 17 matches, maintaining an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 157.80. Throughout the season, he displayed remarkable consistency, hitting three centuries and four half-centuries. His dedication and unwavering performance were recognized when he was awarded the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2023.
In the IPL 2023 final against the Chennai Super Kings, Gill showcased his form and skills. He scored 39 runs off just 20 balls before being dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja. At one point, it seemed like he was on track to score another century, demonstrating the technique he had honed throughout the season.
“It means a lot to me. My hard work is paying off and moving in the right direction. Although we couldn’t win the final, it was an incredible game. Starting well was crucial, and I did that. Initially, I was scoring in the 40s and 50s, but towards the end of the tournament, I converted them into big scores. As for my six-hitting, I have put in a lot of practice and made adjustments to my technique for the death overs, and it has paid off. Each of my centuries was different; the one against SRH was about control, while the one against MI was about selecting the right bowlers to attack. I made the right choices and handled the situations well,” Gill commented after the match.
Regarding the match itself, a solid opening partnership of 67 runs between Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha set the foundation for Gujarat Titans. This was followed by a 64-run stand between Saha and Sai Sudarshan. Saha contributed 54 runs off 39 balls, including five fours and a six. Sudarshan, on the other hand, blazed through with 96 runs off just 47 balls, hitting eight fours and six sixes. He partnered with skipper Hardik Pandya (21 off 12 balls) for an 81-run third-wicket partnership.
Matheesha Pathirana claimed two wickets for 44 runs in his four overs, while Deepak Chahar and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket each.
The match experienced a rain delay, and after the resumption, the Chennai Super Kings were given a revised target of 171 runs in 15 overs. Openers Devon Conway (47 off 25 balls) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (26 off 16 balls) provided a strong start with a 74-run partnership for the first wicket. Despite quick contributions from Ajinkya Rahane (27 off 13 balls) and Ambati Rayadu (19 off 8 balls), Mohit Sharma’s disciplined bowling allowed the Gujarat Titans to make a comeback. Sharma even dismissed Dhoni for a golden duck.
CSK required 13 runs in the final over, and although Mohit Sharma made a valiant effort, Jadeja denied Gujarat Titans a victory by hitting a match-winning boundary on the last ball.
Mohit Sharma was the standout bowler for Gujarat Titans, taking three wickets for 36 runs in his four overs. Noor Ahmed was also impressive, claiming two wickets for 17 runs.
Brief Scores: Gujarat Titans: 214/4 (Sai Sudharsan 96, Wriddhiman Saha 54, Matheesha Pathirana 2/44) lost to Chennai Super Kings: 171/5 in 15 overs (Devon Conway 47, Shivam Dube 32, Mohit Sharma 3/36).
