In a thrilling 13th match of the Indian Premier League, Gujarat Titans emerged with a commanding 204/4 in their allotted 20 overs against Kolkata Knight Riders on April 9, 2023. The Titans’ explosive middle-order batsman, Vijay Shankar, led the charge with a stunning 63 off 24 balls, smacking four fours and five sixes, achieving a strike rate of 262.50.
The Titans’ innings began with Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill opening the batting. Saha was dismissed for 17 off 17 balls, while Gill posted 39 off 31 deliveries, featuring five boundaries. The stage was then set for Sai Sudharsan, who scored a valuable 53 off 38 balls, providing a strong foundation for the Titans’ middle order. Abhinav Manohar and David Miller contributed with 14 and 2 runs, respectively.
Sunil Narine emerged as the most successful bowler for the Knight Riders, picking up three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs. Suyash Sharma chipped in with one wicket, conceding 35 runs in his four overs. However, the rest of the KKR bowling line-up struggled to contain the Titans’ onslaught.
Kolkata Knight Riders’ fielding had some moments of brilliance, such as Jagadeesan’s stunning catch to dismiss Saha and Umesh Yadav’s composed take to send Gill back to the pavilion. Despite these efforts, the KKR bowlers were unable to stem the flow of runs.
Vijay Shankar was the star of the show, ensuring that the Titans crossed the 200-run mark with his blistering innings. His 50 off just 21 balls was a particular highlight, featuring four fours and three sixes. The Titans’ late surge led by Shankar saw them amass 72 runs in the last five overs, reaching a daunting total of 204/4.