IPL 2023: “We should take risks and play shots in middle overs”- Hardik Pandya after GT’s win over PBKS

GT defeated PBKS by 6 wickets with one ball to spare.

Hardik Pandya, the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain, dissected his team’s win over Punjab Kings (PBKS) in the recent IPL 2023 match which was played in Mohali on April 13, 2023. He said that GT batters can afford to be more aggressive in the middle overs in their next matches.

Gujarat Titans (GT) won the toss and chose to bowl first. Mohammad Shami and Josh Little removed openers Prabhsimran Singh for 0 and in form Shikhar Dhawan for 8 runs. While only one PBKS batter Matthew Short (36) went past the 30-run mark, there were small contributions as Jitesh Sharma made 25, and Sam Curran and Shahrukh Khan made 22 runs each.

PBKS managed 153/8 in 20 overs with Mohit Sharma, playing his first IPL match since 2020 was the pick of GT bowlers with 2/18.

In reply, Wriddhiman Saha made 30 in 19 balls and while Shubman Gill held onto one end of the wicket, GT kept losing wickets at the other end. Sai Sudharsan made 19 runs and captain Hardik Pandya made 8 runs.

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Shubman Gill made 67 in 49 balls with 7 fours and 1 six and the match went down right to the wire in the last over. David Miller remained unbeaten on 17 in 18 balls, while Rahul Tewatia hit 5 runs in 2 balls to take GT to victory with one ball to spare and 6 wickets in hand.

However, the game got quite close at the end with GT completing a chase of 154 with a ball to spare, something Hardik did not appreciate.

"To be very honest, I would not appreciate the game going this close from the situation we were in. There was a lot for us to learn from this game. That's the beauty of sports, it's never over till it's over. So we will go back to the drawing board. I think we can take a couple more risks in the middle overs. We should take risks and play shots in the middle overs, need to make sure the game doesn't go so deep,” Hardik said at the post-match presentation.

"The wicket was good but because of the hardness of the soil and wicket, the ball was getting dried up. It was a belter when the new ball was playing,” he added.

Hardik also hailed Mohit Sharma, who was playing his first IPL game since 2020 and picked 2/18 in his 4 overs and was awarded the Player of the Match.

"I was not surprised when Mohit and Alzarri (Joseph) came. They bowled terrific. And credit to Mohit. To come to join us as a net bowler and then wait for his chance, knowing his time will come and today it came. He has done a lot of hard work, he has shown patience and his time has come," Hardik said of Mohit.

Coming back to the result, the skipper said, "It will be a tough pill to swallow, taking it this close. Not a big fan of taking the game to the last over."

GT will next play KKR at home in Ahmedabad on April 16.

(Times of India inputs)