Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL
Gujarat Titans outplayed Lucknow Super Giants in the second innings to reserve their berth in the playoffs and became the first team to do so. Shubman Gill's gritty 63-run knock followed by Rashid Khan's four wickets haul helped Gujarat to advance into the next round as Lucknow got bundled out at mere 82 runs in 13.5 overs.
After Hardik Pandya opted to bat first, Lucknow bowlers posted a formidable challenge to Gujarat batter and bowled on strict line & lengths. Except for Shubman Gill (63 off 49), none of the batters could play a decisive knock in the first innings, as Hardik Pandya (10 off 7), David Miller (26 off 24) and Rahul Tewatia (22 off 16) made just brief appearances.
In response to 144, Lucknow struggled more than ever as Deepak Hooda's 27 was the highest score from the side. Eight of their batters could not reach double digits in the second innings. The match between table-toppers was expected to be a thrilling game, but Gujarat bowlers made it look like a one-sided game. Let's look at the points table after match number 57 in IPL 2022.
Changes in points table
With that win, Gujarat Titans have firmed their spot at the top of the points table. They now have 18 points in 12 games, with a net run rate of +0.376. Meanwhile, Lucknow too, has not faced any changes in their standings as they are sitting at the second spot in the points table. They have 16 points in 12 games with a net run rate of +0.385.
What did the captains say?
Hardik Pandya ended up as a happy captain, and he was extremely 'proud' of his players for pulling off the game despite such a low score. "We wanted to be ruthless today and relax post-game," he said during the post-match presentation. The skipper also felt that his team ticked all the right boxes, and bowlers stepped up at the right time.
On the other hand, KL Rahul was a bit disappointed with the batters as he felt a decent partnership in the middle-overs could have done well for them. However, he felt that the loss was a reminder for his side to keep working hard and a moment of realisation that nothing comes easy. "We knew their spinners were going to be really difficult to score off. We have to find ways to score against good oppositions on tricky pitches. We need to learn and figure out," he concluded.
Today's matchup
The inaugural champions Rajasthan Royals will lock horns with Delhi Capitals on Wednesday evening at DY Patil Sports Academy in Mumbai. While the Royals aim to better their standing by winning the game, Delhi will be desperate to bounce back and win a game to stay in the league.