Shubman Gill’s brilliant performance with the bat and his maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) century powered Gujarat Titans (GT) to a commendable 34-run victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.
Despite the early loss of Wriddhiman Saha in the first over, Gill partnered with Sai Sudharsan to take GT to a commanding position. Gill played a variety of exquisite shots all over the field, pushing GT to a strong position of 65/1 at the end of the powerplay.
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The second-wicket partnership lasted till the 15th over, with both players dismantling the SRH bowling line-up. Gill continued his sublime form, keeping the scoreboard ticking even as GT’s middle order faced a sudden collapse, losing four key wickets in quick succession.
Gill’s masterful knock came to an end when he was caught off a half-hearted drive, but not before he had scored an impressive 101 runs off just 58 balls. His century played a significant role in GT’s total of 188/9, despite a late collapse in the final over that saw GT losing four wickets and scoring just two runs.
In the post-match presentation, an elated Gill revealed that his six off Abhishek Sharma’s ball was the most satisfying moment of his innings. “I told him that if you bowl to me I’m gonna hit you for a six,” Gill said, sharing the friendly banter between the two, who were part of the U19 World Cup 2018 winning side and have played together for Punjab in first-class cricket.
Gill also reflected on his journey in the IPL, noting the significance of hitting his maiden century against SRH, the same team he made his IPL debut against. “I made my IPL debut against SRH and got my first hundred against them, so life has come a full circle,” he added.
With his brilliant performance, Shubman Gill was deservedly awarded the “Player of the Match“. His century not only marked a personal milestone but also played a crucial part in GT’s victory, which has now positioned them as the first team to qualify for the playoffs in IPL 2023. With nine wins and four losses, GT tops the table with 18 points, while SRH is struggling in the second last position with eight points.
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