Gujarat Titans (GT) registered a seven-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 39 of IPL 2023 at the Eden Gardens on Saturday (April 29).

Chasing 180 to win, the Titans needed 68 runs in the final six overs of the match and KKR were in with a chance to beat the defending champions for the second time this season.

However, Vijay Shankar (51* off 24) and David Miller (32* off 18) took the KKR bowling attack to the cleaners in the slog overs to take GT over the line with 13 deliveries to spare.

After the game, Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya said he would have taken 180 runs on the pitch on any given day.

“After a long time I saw that the team was bowling well and someone from the opposition was playing with conviction. They pulled it back squeezing those over. I would have taken 180 on any given day on this pitch,” said Pandya at the post-match presentation ceremony.

“Somewhere down the line, in a group we know that to win the game. No matter the situation, we have to play good cricket and that humbleness is helping us to win games from difficult situations because every time I see people want to contribute they want to face and come out of it,” he added.

Hardik had special praise reserved for Shankar, saying that the latter turned the match on its head.

“He is a fitter Vijay Shankar, and a more confident one. The amount of hard work he has done is terrific. At one point of time it was looking it will go to the last over as well but the way he hit a few ball, he just changed it and going forward you will see lot of innings like this from Vijay Shankar. I believe in life good guys go good places and he is one of them,” said Pandya.

With this victory, Gujarat Titans reclaimed the top spot on the points table. They will next face Delhi Capitals on Tuesday (May 2).