Credit: BCCI/IPL
The 62nd game of the Indian Premier League witnessed the Gujarat Titans dominating the orange army, SunRisers Hyderabad, and with it, securing their spot in the playoffs. Despite a good bowling spell from the Hyderabad-based team, the limelight was stolen by Gujarat’s Shubman Gill who scored his first century in the match. The youngster was in brilliant form against SRH, but his on-field duel with SRH’s Abhishek Sharma has been making headlines.
The visiting team had won the toss and invited their hosts to bat first. Gujarat, in return, put up a score of 188 for Hyderabad to chase, which the latter failed in doing so. The Hardik Pandya-led squad restricted their guests to 154 and emerged victorious by 34 runs.
Following the match, Shubman revealed that getting big runs off Abhishek Sharma was the most satisfying part. The 23-year-old cricketer scored his maiden century in IPL with a knock of 101 off 58 balls, with a combination of 13 fours and one six. During the post-match presentation, Gill revealed that he wanted to target the SRH spinner and hit him off a few big runs. He said, "The six off Abhishek Sharma was the most pleasing thing for me. I told him that if you bowl to me, I'm gonna hit you for a six."
Notably, Abhishek and Gill have shared the dressing room during the 2018 U-19 World Cup, and also played first-class cricket against Punjab.
Life has come a full circle: Gill after his first IPL century
The GT opener said that life has come full circle to him after his first IPL 100 against the Orange Army. Gill made his IPL debut against the Hyderabad-based franchise and smashed his first ton against the same side. "I made my IPL debut against SRH and got my first hundred against them, so life has come a full circle. Hopefully, many more to come. It's all about the bowlers and situation and I don't dwell much on my last innings. It is important to focus on the situation in front," Shubman added.
Standing second on the IPL Orange Cap list, Gill has scored 576 runs in 13 matches with four fifties and one 100 so far. RCB skipper Faf du Plessis is leading the Orange Cap list with 631 runs in 12 matches while RR opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is placed at the third spot with 575 runs in 13 matches.