AHEMEDABAD: Shubman Gill made a half-century (63) as Gujarat Titans (GT) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by five wickets in the first game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 on Friday at Narendra Modi Stadium.
As Rahul Tewatia and Rashid Khan smashed significant boundaries off the penultimate over, Shubman Gill scored 63 off 36 as Gujarat Titans got their title defence off to a winning start.
Tushar Deshpande of CSK became the IPL's first Impact Player (substitute). In place of Ambati Rayudu, he arrived. Kane Williamson of New Zealand, who had sustained an injury while fielding in the first innings, was replaced by GT's Sai Sudharsan, who was also chosen as an Impact Player.
Rajvardhan Hangargekar of CSK made a spectacular IPL debut, taking three wickets for 36 runs in just four overs.
With just three runs off the opening over while attempting to chase down 179, Titans' innings started similarly to CSK's. Next, Deshpande was struck by Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha for a few fours and a six, removing 15 runs from the over.
Debutant Hangargekar did not get off to the start he had hoped for because on his second IPL delivery, he overstepped and put down a no-ball. He then delivered a wide in response. On a free hit, Saha pulled the short ball for a four over midwicket.
Saha got the thick edge of the bat and was caught at deep mid-wicket with Shivam Dube running to his right to take a fantastic catch. Hangargekar was quick to recover as a few singles later he took his first IPL wicket and removed Saha.
For a boundary in the following over, Gill changed up his technique and punched it through cover. Deshpande let up a no-ball after a single, and Gill took advantage of the opportunity to smash it over deep mid-wicket for a decisive six. In the sixth over, Gill smashed a few of boundaries to Mitchell Santner to raise the powerplay score to 65 with one wicket lost.
Gill attempted two boundaries against Santner in the eighth over after taking singles and doubles in the seventh over. His subsequent over saw a 50-run partnership for the second wicket with Sai Sudarshan.
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