Gujarat Titans (GT) ended the IPL 2023 league stage on a high as they registered a memorable six-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday (May 21).
Chasing 198 to win, GT rode on opener Shubman Gill’s sensational century to overhaul the target with five deliveries to spare.
After the game, Gill expressed confidence that the defending champions will be able to progress to the final for the second successive time in IPL.
The Titans are due to take on four-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Qualifier 1 at Chepauk on Tuesday (May 23).
“It's going to be an exciting one, playing against Chennai in Chennai. We have got a great bowling attack for that wicket in particular and hopefully we'll make it to the final for the second time,” Gill said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
Earlier in the game, RCB piled up 197/5 on the board on the back of Virat Kohli’s record seventh IPL century (101* off 61 balls).
In reply, Gujarat lost Wriddhiman Saha (12) cheaply. However, Gill stitched a 123-run partnership with Vijay Shankar to keep GT in the hunt.
While Shankar fell after scoring 53 in 35 balls, Shubman held the one end firmly and went on to slam his second successive century in the ongoing IPL. His carnage in the death overs put the RCB bowlers on the backfoot.
On the first delivery of the final over, Gill smashed Wayne Parnell for a six to take his team home. With the match-winning shot, he also notched up the three-figure mark and stayed unbeaten on 104 off 52 balls, including 5 fours and 8 sixes.
“I am in good form, it's about getting a start and then converting it into a big one. In the first half of the IPL, I was missing out on those big ones. I was getting a lot of 40s and 50s. Thankfully, it's all working out for me in the business end of the IPL. You need to keep playing shots in T20 cricket. You have to keep the intent and keep applying yourself, keep the belief,” the GT opener stated.
“The new ball was holding a bit, but it got easier to bat on. The ball was getting wet, it was difficult for their spinners to bowl. He (Shankar) was trying to hit too hard when he came in, I told him to hold his shape and just try to time it. Once he found the momentum, he's someone who can hit the ball a long way. I know my game and it's important for me to be in that area. For any player, it's important to know what kind of player you are and then just keep building on that,” he added.
