Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings, IPL, 2024 Full score card

PUNJAB WIN A FAMOUS GAME HERE AT AHMEDABAD, and it has been the two youngsters who have turned the tables for them absolutely out of nowhere! On a fuller length, sliding down the leg stump line, Shashank Singh misses to flick it away and the ball brushes off his pads before trickling down to short fine. They take a leg bye and that will do it for Punjab. A review though, has been taken by Gujarat for LBW in their final resort. UltraEdge shows that the ball has clearly passed through the bat with no scratch, and the Ball Tracker confirms two greens as the ball misses to hit the stumps and also, the impact is outside leg. Punjab register their second win of the season and execute a huge upset against Gujarat in their backyard. Also, this has been the highest successful run chase in this edition of the Indian T20 League.

EDGED AND FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Punjab will take it with open arms.  On a shade fuller length attacking the stumps, Shashank Singh swings the bat wildly to flick it over the leg side, but it catches the leading edge that flies over short third for a boundary. What an absolute turnover this has been, courtesy of the two youngsters.

Slower one, on the back of a length, Harpreet Brar pulls it to deep square leg for a single. 5 off 3. Tighten your seatbelts, folks. This is going down to the wire.

Oh, no! Another extra! Would you believe it? Wriddhiman Saha thinks otherwise and challenges the Umpire's decision. Nalkande bowls it short in length, on the leg stump line, Harpreet Brar arches back underneath the ball with his bat in the air. The ball carries to the keeper and the Umpire stretches it to signal it as a Wide. Replays come in from a couple of angles and the split-screen shows that it's not going over Brar's head. A fantastic review by Wriddhiman Saha as the on-field decision has been overturned now.  But more importantly, a crucial dot delivery for Gujarat.

WIDE! Oh, dear! Too short, over the top of the southpaw's head. Harpreet Brar fails to ramp it away and the Umpire signals for a Wide. Just 6 needed off the 5 legal deliveries now.

Harpreet Brar walks out to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! What a sea-saw of emotions here for the fans! Darshan Nalkande bowls a slower one on the back of a length, Ashutosh Sharma hits it uppishly with the bottom half of the hand and the ball dollies straight into the safe hands of Rashid Khan who is patrolling the long on boundary. He doesn't move an inch and takes an absolute sitter of a catch. Another twist in the story here. But what a scintillating knock from Ashutosh Sharma as he has provided a glimmer of hope for his team out of nowhere.

7 needed off the final over. Umesh Yadav has one over remaining but he has been pretty expensive and Shubman Gill has a couple of unused bowlers as well. Surely he goes for Umesh here, right? No, Darshan Nalkande has been handed the ball and what a situation he finds himself in. Can he defend 6 runs and be the hero for his side?

SIX! He clears the ropes and this just might be the game for Punjab! Short in length, and outside off, Shashank Singh shuffles across off a bit and stands tall before dragging it into the stands behind deep mid-wicket for a biggie. Last over remaining now and Punjab are just 7 runs away from a thrilling win.

On the back of a length outside off, Ashutosh Sharma lofts it over covers for just a single.

Fires in right on the pads in an attempt to york it, Ashutosh Sharma shuffles way across off but fails to connect it and rolls it to deep square leg for two leg byes.

In the air...just short! Slower one again on the top of off, Ashutosh Sharma pulls it aerially over mid-wicket for a couple of runs. 16 off 9 needed now.

SIX! Oh, what a cracking shot! Ashutosh Sharma is playing an absolute blinder as an Impact sub here. Slower back-of-the-hand ball outside off on a length, Ashutosh Sharma waits for it and drags it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. He is making a real impact here.

A low full toss to start with on the stumps, Shashank Singh flicks it to widish long on where Vijay Shankar swoops in and just allows them to taken a single.

FOUR! Crucial four this! Short and on off, Ashutosh Sharma swivels hard and top edges it over short fine for a boundary. 25 needed off the last couple of overs.

Another attempt for the catch but puts it down. A good effort though by Sai Sudharsan. Length ball outside off, Ashutosh Sharma launches it high down the ground with no real timing on it. Sai Sudharsan runs forward from long off and puts in a dive ahead but fails to hold onto the ball as he falls. Two taken.

Fifty for Shashank Singh! An innings of absolute nerves of steel from him. A low full toss on the off stump line, Shashank Singh squeezes it to the off side and gets a single.

On the off stump line on a length, Ashutosh Sharma swings hard at it but gets it off the toe-end toward long on for a single. 32 off 15 required now.

FOUR! Clever and innovative! Poor short delivery on the top of the middle, Ashutosh Sharma climbs on the bounce and ramps it over the keeper's head for a boundary on a couple of bounces.

FOUR! Oh, hello! Outside off on a shade fuller length, Ashutosh Sharma detects the line and shuffles outside off before ramping it over square leg for a boundary.

Another good variation from Mohit as he bowls a slower one on a length, just around off, Ashutosh Sharma mistimes his pull uppishly but it lands safe in the no man's land somewhere in the front of deep mid-wicket. Just a single taken. 41 needed off the last 3 overs now. What a superb over from Mohit Sharma as he concedes just 6 off it.

Slower one this time on a length outside off, Shashank Singh punches it to deep point for one.

On a hard length, outside off, Ashutosh Sharma chops it to point for a quick single.

DROPPED! Oh, dear! Umesh Yadav is having a really hard time in the field tonight, first with the ball and now with this drop! Mohit bowls on the back of a length on off, Ashutosh Sharma swipes across uppishly with no real foot movement. The ball swirls up in the air towards deep mid-wicket where Umesh Yadav runs to his left and dives to take the catch but he fails to hang on it on the momentum. Two were taken in the meantime.

Short and on the stump line, Ashutosh Sharma looks to ramp it over but fails to connect.

Begins with a quicker one on the length around off, Ashutosh Sharma pulls it with no real timing on it towards deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Oh, wait, the Umpire has called for a short run here. So just a single then.

On a flatter trajectory on off, Ashutosh Sharma nudges it to deep square leg for just one. End of a successful over for Gujarat. Punjab need 47 off the last 24 deliveries.

A googly on offer this time on a length, Shashank Singh looks to tuck it away off the back foot but it takes a brush off his pad instead toward short fine. They cross for a leg bye.

Full in length on off, Ashutosh Sharma leans ahead and looks to drive but slices the ball off the thickish outside edge to short third for a single.

Strategic break! Well, well, what a partnership this was turning out to be for Punjab but somehow Rashid Khan has picked up a wicket and Punjab are once again put on the back foot. However, Shashank Singh is still out there and is seeing the ball like a football. Punjab will in all likelihood use the Impact Player option and bring on an extra batter now but Gujarat do have a couple of overs of Mohit Sharma up their sleeve. This looks to be heading write down to the wire. And with that said, Ashutosh Sharma does come in as the Impact Player for Punjab, replacing Arshdeep Singh.

OUT! TAKEN! Rashid Khan gets his man this time and Jitesh Sharma is in disarray after striking two consecutive sixes. A poor delivery again on offer, there to be hit. On a fuller length, right into the arc of the batter. Jitesh Sharma shuffles across a bit, and again goes for a slog hit over the deep mid-wicket region but he tries to hit it a bit too hard and ends up losing his shape totally in this process, which results in the mistiming of the shot straight towards Darshan Nalkande in the deep. Rashid Khan, the mystery man does the trick and finally gets a wicket here. Another twist in the tale in this contest.

SIX! What a run chase this has been so far! Two in two for Jitesh! On the fuller length on the stumps, Jitesh Sharma slogs it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen. This game is far from being over.

SIX! Jitesh joins the party now! Rashid lands it on off and on a length, Jitesh Sharma stands tall and slaps it over the bowler's head for a maximum.

Cleverly bowled! Shashank Singh pre-meditates a bit and comes down the pitch, Mohit Sharma sees this and takes pace off, bowling it wide of the off stump as well. Singh goes through with the shot and gets an inside edge that goes just past the stumps and to the keeper.

Good length angled into middle, Shashank Singh shimmies across to the off side and whips it away in between long on and deep mid-wicket for a couple of more runs. Moves on to 48 from 21 balls.

FOUR! Up and over! Hard length around off stump, Shashank Singh holds his shape brilliantly and lifts it with a high elbow over the mid off fielder for a boundary.

Well disguised by Mohit Sharma and just one run so far in this over. Dug in halfway down the track, around off and it is the slower one. Shashank Singh attempts the ramp but is well beaten.

Pitches this one up at the stumps, Jitesh Sharma goes for the heave but ends up mistiming it much squarer to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A quick bumper this outside off and around head height, Jitesh Sharma watches it well and decides to let it go.

SIX! Shashank Singh is playing a blinder here! Too full and on the pads, Singh gets down on one knee and slog-sweeps it away over deep square leg for a biggie.

On a dragged length over middle, Jitesh Sharma looks to pull off the back foot but gets it high on the bat and towards wide long on for just a single.

Floats it up a bit, full and outside off, Shashank Singh goes for the slog-sweep and gets a top edge that lobs well in front of short third for a single.

Another brilliant effort in the deep and it is Azmatullah Omarzai this time who saves two runs for his side. Slightly shorter and around off, Shashank Singh gets deep in the crease and muscles the ball away between deep square leg and deep mid-wicket for a brace.

Very full and outside off stump, Jitesh Sharma drives it on the full and gets it through extra cover for a single.

Leg bye! Brings out the googly and bowls it on a good length on middle and leg, Shashank Singh misses the flick and the ball goes off the thigh pad behind square on the leg side. They get a leg bye.

Rashid Khan (2-0-15-0) is back into the attack.

Pitches it up on the fifth stump line, Shashank Singh drives it on the up and square through cover-point for a single. 81 needed now off 42 balls.

FOUR! Cheeky and skillful from Shashank Singh! Another bumper, this time around off, Singh watches it closely and just leans a bit to ramp it over the keeper for a boundary.

Fractionally short and on the hips, Shashank Singh flicks it off the legs and well wide of fine leg but Noor Ahmad covers good ground to his left and manages to pull the back in, saving a couple of runs for his side as well.

Effort delivery as Mohit Sharma grunts and bangs in a surprise bumper right around the helmet. Jitesh Sharma is taken aback and doesn't control the pull but gets it down to fine leg for a single.

Jitesh Sharma is in at number 7 as half of the Punjab side is back to the sheds.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! An instant impact from Gujarat's talisman with the ball and Sikandar Raza is sent packing. That classic back-of-the-hand slower ball, bowled on a hard length and outside off. Raza charges down the track and looks to swing across the line but only gets an outside edge through to the keeper and Wriddhiman Saha makes no mistake with the gloves on.  Punjab are now 5 down.

Back of a length to start with and bowled outside off, Shashank Singh stays back and dabs it down to short third for a quick single.

And there he is, Mohit Sharma is finally given the ball.

Nicely played and good running too! Pulls the length back and bowls it around leg stump, Sikandar Raza stays back and nudges it through the gap at mid-wicket for a brace.

Leg bye! Flatter and fuller on the legs, Shashank Singh misses the sweep and the ball goes off the pads to short fine leg for a leg bye.

FOUR! Shashank Singh is turning the tide here! Fractionally short and outside off, Singh stays deep in the crease and muscles the pull well in front of mid-wicket for a boundary.

On a dragged length around off and going away, Shashank Singh watchfully taps it to point.

Short on middle and leg, pulled away off the back foot to deep mid-wicket for just a single as Darshan Nalkande is quick to get to the ball in the deep.

Slightly shorter on middle, Sikandar Raza plays it away through the mid-wicket region and picks up a couple of runs.

Still no introduction of Mohit Sharma. Noor Ahmad to bowl his final over.

FOUR! Steaky this time but will do nicely! Banged in short and outside off, Shashank Singh goes hard at it and gets a thick outside edge that runs down to third man for a boundary.

SIX! This is aggressive from Shashank Singh! Umesh Yadav bangs in a short ball over middle and leg, Singh gets inside the line and manages to angle the pull over deep fine leg for a maximum.

FOUR! Shot! Short and outside off, Shashank Singh gets on top of the bounce and slaps it away hard to the left of deep point for a boundary.

DROPPED! Azmatullah Omarzai hesitated for a split second and that cost him dearly. Back of a length and outside off, Sikandar Raza tries to loft it away and ends up slicing it over the point region. Omarzai comes charging in but breaks his stride and has to dive it but can't hang on it. Just the single taken.

Nearly one of the catches of the tournament but it doesn't stick! Hard length around off, Sikandar Raza gets across the off stump and whips it away flat to the right of short fine leg where Noor Ahmad flies to his right and sticks out a weaker right hand but the ball bursts through and Darshan Nalkande dives in at the fence to keep it down to two.

Play and a miss! Umesh Yadav steams in and digs it in short outside the line of off stump. Sikandar Raza looks to uppercut it away but there's too much heat on the ball.

Flatter and quicker on the middle, Shashank Singh punches it back to the bowler to end the over. Halfway through and Punjab still need 117 to win off the last 60 deliveries.

SIX! What a cracking shot! Full in the line of the woods, Shashank Singh skips down to the pitch of the ball and slaps it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

An appeal for LBW but the umpire remains unmoved. Shubman Gill chats briefly with Noor and challenges the decision to go upstairs. Noor Ahmad again continues to ball the googly in the line of the stumps on a shade fuller length, Shashank Singh gets ahead to block it off but he plays over the line of the ball and it pings his front pad sneaking past his inside edge. UltraEdge shows no bat is involved when the ball passes through the bat. Ball Tracker shows that the ball is pitching in the line of the stumps but misses the off stump by an inch. The on-field decision stays and Gujarat lose a review here.

WIDE! Down the leg side on a fuller length, Shashank Singh fails to connect. Wide given.

Full, on the pads, Sikandar Raza sweeps it to deep square leg for one.

WHISKER! How has that missed the stumps? Deceives the batter with a beautiful wrong'un on off, Sikandar Raza plays it inside the line of the ball and gets beaten on the outside edge. Also, the ball misses the off stump by just a few centimeters.

Slides it on the middle stump on a fuller length, Sikandar Raza sweeps it through square leg for a couple of runs. Azmatullah Omarzai does well in the deep to chase it down.

Hits the deck hard at 139.1 clicks, outside off, Sikandar Raza punches it solidly through covers for a single to end the over.

WIDE! Way to short and angling down leg. Wide given as Sikandar Raza ducks underneath it.

Length ball outside off, Shashank Singh punches it to long on for one.

Shashank Singh is the new man in.

OUT! TAKEN! He couldn't have timed it better but the placement was not good. Sam Curran is absolutely dejected and understandably so. Azmatullah Omarzai bangs it into the pitch on the off stump line, Sam Curran is quick to detect the length and pulls it hard but straight into the hands of Kane Williamson at mid-wicket. Sam Curran walks back to the sheds on 5 and Punjab are really in a big trouble here, and Gujarat are in the control now.

Cannons it on the pads, on the back of a length, Sikandar Raza misses to flick and gets it off the pads to the square leg region. They take a leg bye.

Short in length, on the pads, Sikandar Raza hops back and tucks it to mid-wicket.

Slants it on the back of a length, outside off, Sam Curran cuts it hard but Vijay Shankar at point dives to perfection to his right and stops the ball saving a certain boundary. A single taken.

Slower through the air on the middle stump line, and fuller in length, Sikandar Raza gets ahead to block it off and inside edges it to the square leg region to end the over. Another successful over from Noor Ahmad comes to an end.

A slider on the off stump line, Sam Curran rocks back quickly and punches it to long on along the ground for a single.

Length ball on the pads, Sikandar Raza sweeps again to deep fine leg and gets a single this time.

Full, and in front of the woods, Sikandar Raza sits down on his knee and sweeps it fine towards deep fine leg for a couple of runs.

Strategic break! Punjab have tried to be aggressive but have now lost their top three batters and will have to rebuild in the middle phase. Noor Ahmad has been brilliant so far and has picked up a couple of crucial wickets to put Gujarat in command of the game. Let's see which side will have a better middle phase. With that said, Sikandar Raza walks out to bat.

OUT! TAKEN! Noor Ahmad provides another crucial wicket off a beauty of a delivery! Punjab are 3 down now and in a bit of trouble. Noor takes the pace off from the ball and provides the air to slide the googly on the off and middle stump line, keeps the length full. Prabhsimran Singh gets a bit greedy seeing the ball in the arc, and tries to hit it over the leg side, but he is way too early on the shot and gets a top edge that flies straight to the throat of Mohit Sharma stationed at point, and takes a simple catch. Prabhsimran Singh departs on 35 and Noor Ahmad has sent back both the well-set batters into the sheds just in the span of two overs now. Gujarat strike a comeback in the contest.

Short and outside off, Curran punches it to covers for a single.

Two Wides! Wriddhiman Saha misses to stop but Kane Williamson dives in and saves runs. Spills it down leg, Prabhsimran Singh misses to flick and Saha too, fails to grab. They cross for a single.

A shade full in length from Rashid on the middle, Prabhsimran Singh steers it to deep mid-wicket for a single to end the over.

Quicker at 93 clicks on the stumps, Sam Curran looks to drive but only gets an inside edge that rolls to short fine. They cross for one.

A wrong'un sliding outside off on a length, Sam Curran backs away and punches it to the off side.

On a flatter trajectory on off, Prabhsimran Singh swivels and pulls to deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Slogged away! Rashid lands it right in the arc on a fuller length, Prabhsimran Singh anticipates the length early and slogs it over mid on for a boundary.

Quicker on a length, Prabhsimran Singh plays and misses on the outside edge.

Oh, a brutal wrong'un, spinning back into the southpaw. Sam Curran negotiates it well by backing away and blocking it off the back foot. End of the Powerplay and Punjab are 54/2.

On the dragged length aiming the pads, Prabhsimran Singh tucks it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Clever, clever from the youngster. Noor lands it a bit overpitched but down the leg stump line, Prabhsimran Singh sits on his knee and guides the ball with a sweep shot through the short fine for a boundary.

Flat and quick outside off, Prabhsimran Singh plays it to mid off.

Full in length, slow in the air, drifting on off, Sam Curran flicks it to deep square leg for a single.

Sam Curran is the new man in.

OUT! BOWLED'EM! Noor Ahmad bowls an absolute ripper of a delivery and dismisses the dangerous-looking Jonny Bairstow on the very first ball! Noor Ahmad provides the air and lands this wrong'un on the leg and middle channel that turns back sharply. Jonny Bairstow plants his front foot with a straight bat but plays all over the line and it creates a huge gap between the pad and the bat. The ball sneaks through and breaks into the stumps. Gujarat get their second wicket.

Spin from both ends as Noor Ahmad is into the attack.

Quicker one, bowled full and on the pads, Prabhsimran Singh gets hurried on and misses the sweep, getting hit on the pads.

Shortens the length and bowls it around off, Prabhsimran Singh gets it off the toe end of the bat to backward point.

FOUR! Excellent shot! Flatter and quicker on middle and leg, Prabhsimran Singh is quick to make room and he cuts this one away through the point region for a boundary.

Keeps bowling it short and a bit too straight, Prabhsimran Singh sweeps it away behind square leg and picks up a couple of runs.

Good running! On the shorter side and sliding quickly onto the pads, Jonny Bairstow fails to flick it away and the ball goes off the pads to backward square leg. They pick up a leg bye.

Begins with a wrong'un that slides on from middle stump, Jonny Bairstow presses back and works it away through the mid-wicket region for a couple of quick runs.

Time for some spin as Rashid Khan is given the ball now.

Back of a length and close to the off stump, Jonny Bairstow looks to guide it away and almost gets chopped on as the ball goes off the inside edge and past the stumps towards short fine leg. They get a single.

Good effort in the deep from Darshan Nalkande as the ball was really travelling there. Banged in well short and at the body, Prabhsimran Singh whips the pull to the right of deep square leg for just a single.

Shortens the length even further and bowls it outside off, Prabhsimran Singh hops and dabs it down to point.

FOUR! That was dismissive from Prabhsimran Singh! Back of a length and around off stump, Singh comes down the pitch and flat-bats the shot right back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

Short and a bit wide, Prabhsimran Singh slaps it away firmly but picks out the man at cover perfectly.

SIX! Flicked all the way for a maximum! Good length on the legs, Prabhsimran Singh picks it well and shovels it over the square leg fence for a maximum.

Had that hit, Prabhsimran Singh would have been in trouble! Banged in short over the stumps, Singh tries to be aggressive by coming down the track and miscues the pull straight to mid on before setting off for the single. Mohit Sharma has a shy at the bowler's end but misses and Singh survives.

Hard length around the top of off and middle, Jonny Bairstow stays put and tucks it away in front of square on the leg side for one more.

Pitches this one up and angles it into the pads at 139 clicks, Prabhsimran Singh whips it aerially down to deep square leg and turns the strike over.

Bowled back of a length and around off, Prabhsimran Singh stands tall and plays it back to the bowler.

Good comeback delivery as this is dug in a bit and around off, Jonny Bairstow almost ends up running past it and lobs it off the outside edge over backward point for a single.

FOUR! Hammered away! Full and outside off stump, Jonny Bairstow gets on the front foot and drives it through extra cover for a boundary.

FOUR! Bludgeoned to the fence! Short of a length and over off stump, Prabhsimran Singh backs away a bit and forces the pull between mid on and mid-wicket for a boundary.

Hard length around off stump, just nipping away a touch, Prabhsimran Singh looks to hang back and punch it away but one hand comes off the handle and the ball gets pushed straight to covers.

Drags the length back and gets it to straighten from middle stump, Prabhsimran Singh gets behind the line and makes the block.

Pitched up around middle, Jonny Bairstow with half a push at it and gets it just past the diving bowler to his right and sets off for the single. Prabhsimran Singh is a bit slow to respond to the call but they make it across.

Length ball on leg stump, trying to swing it away, Prabhsimran Singh flicks it away stylishly and wide of deep fine for a single.

Prabhsimran Singh is in at number 3.

OUT! CHOPPED ON! Loose, too loose from Shikhar Dhawan, and Umesh Yadav picks up a big wicket off his very first delivery. Starts with a short and wide one from over the wicket and it is there to be hit. Dhawan's eyes light up and he looks to cut it away but his feet don't go anywhere and he ends up getting a thick inside edge as the ball goes back into the stumps. Gujarat get the early wicket they wanted. The skipper, and the man in-form for Punjab walks back to the sheds on a cheap score.

Umesh Yadav to operate from the other end.

Angling down leg! Full again but much straighter and shaping back in, Jonny Bairstow plays all over it and gets hit on the pads.

FOUR! Not perfectly timed but timed well enough! Fuller in length and brighter on off stump, Jonny Bairstow forces the drive through covers and beats a chasing Rashid Khan to pick up four more runs.

FOUR! Quality stroke from Jonny Bairstow this time. Just a tad full and wide, shaping away as well, Jonny stays on the front foot and gets his hands through the ball to cream it through covers for a boundary.

Oh, the inswinger now and this is quality bowling from Azmatullah Omarzai. Good length around off stump, Jonny Bairstow tentatively looks to cover drive but this one jags back in and goes through the gates but luckily for Bairstow, over the stumps as well. Also, at the moment there's no Shubman Gill on the field and Rashid Khan is the stand-in captain.

FOUR! Oh, dear! Noor Ahmad has made a mess of that one. Top delivery, full and swinging sharply away from the right-hander from off stump. Jonny Bairstow is forced to play at it but gets a thick outside edge past first slip and towards third man where Omarzai's fellow Afghan teammate lets it through for a boundary.

Nice and full to begin with around off stump, this one shapes into the left-hander as well. Shikhar Dhawan looks to drive on the up but gets an inside edge onto the pads and the ball rolls away past the off stump. They scamper through for one and Punjab are underway!

FOUR! Rahul Tewatia provides the big finish for Gujarat! Arshdeep Singh looks to go full and wide but ends up serving a full toss and this time Tewatia gets down on one knee and swats it away crisply towards deep mid-wicket for yet another boundary. 13 off the final over and Gujarat finish with 199/4 on the board!

FOUR! One bounce and into the fence! Dragged short and outside off, Rahul Tewatia gets across a bit and climbs on top of the bounce before pulling it well in front of deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

Top bowling from Arshdeep Singh as he nails the wide yorker and all Shubman Gill can do is squeeze it away to deep point for another single.

Missed opportunity! Arshdeep Singh comes from over the stumps and looks for a slower one but ends up serving a juicy full toss around off. Rahul Tewatia doesn't get a hold of it and just pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Full and at the stumps this time, Shubman Gill charges down the pitch and swats it away to the left of long on for just a single as Jonny Bairstow is quick to cut it off.

A low full toss outside off, Shubman Gill gets under it but doesn't quite time it and gets it wide of long off for a couple of runs. Good work in the deep from Harpreet Brar as well.

Risky but Shubman Gill does make it! Full and wide again, Gill advances down the pitch and hammers it on the full towards wide long off. Sam Curran runs across to his left from long off and puts in the dive before pushing the ball away. It is though pushed a bit too far and that allows the batters to sprint back or the third. The throw was at the bowler's end and the bails were taken off but the replays showed that the dive saved Gill.

Arshdeep Singh to bowl the final over. Will he restrict Gujarat below 200? Let's find out.

Full and wide, angling across, Rahul Tewatia gives the charge and has to really reach for it before hitting it towards deep cover for a run.

WIDE! A quick bumper this over middle and leg, Rahul Tewatia looks to get inside the line and pull but misses. Tewatia right away takes the review for a wide as he thinks this has gone over his head. The third umpire checks the replays and does indeed deem it a wide. 16 already off the over!

FOUR! Rahul Tewatia is inside Harshal Patel's head it seems. Full and wide, gets it right this time but Tewatia reads it well, moves early past the off stump and sweeps it on the full to deep backward square leg for four more runs.

WIDE! Full and wide outside off, just a bit too wide though.

Wow, what an effort by Shashank Singh in the deep and he has saved a couple of crucial runs for his side. Slower one, bowled well into the deck and Rahul Tewatia pulls it away behind deep square leg. Shashank races across to his left and puts in a dive and the replays show that he managed to let go off the ball before touching the ropes.

WIDE! Rahul Tewatia pre-meditates and moves well past the off stump and Harshal Patel tries to follow him but ends up serving a high full toss well beyond the tramline. The ball was well within Tewatia's reach but a wide is called and it isn't reviewed either.

SIX! Rahul Tewatia just loves playing against Punjab! Another low full toss, this time on the stumps, Tewatia stays a bit low and wrists it nonchalantly over deep square leg for a maximum. That was timed to perfection.

Just misses the mark with the wide yorker but Shubman Gill ends up slashing it away square through covers for a single.

Harshal Patel to continue and will bowl the penultimate over.

Streaky from Shubman Gill! Pitched up outside off stump, Gill throws his hands at it and slices it off the outside edge to the left of deep backward point for just a single.

Takes pace off again and bowls it full around off, Rahul Tewatia shimmies across a bit and punches it on the up to long off for a single.

Rahul Tewatia is in at number 6.

OUT! TAKEN! Top effort from Harpreet Brar and Kagiso Rabada picks up a wicket here. Smart from Rabada as he takes pace off and bowls it short but also pushes the ball wide of the off stump. Vijay Shankar looks to slap it flat over long off but toe-ends it. Brar comes charging in from the deep and puts a big dive forward to grab it with both hands. Shankar departs after a sluggish knock and it might just turn out to be a positive thing for Gujarat here.

Full and outside off, gets the length correct this time, Shubman Gill shanks it down to long off and picks up a single this time. 11 already off the over with 3 balls remaining.

FOUR! A forehand smash from Shubman Gill now! Banged in short and around off stump, Gill cramped for room but manages to flat-bat it right back over the bowler's head for a boundary.

SIX! Shubman Gill is taking Kagiso Rabada on and coming out on top consistently here. Pitched up right in the slot on off and middle at 134 clicks, Gill hangs back and knocks the cover off the ball as he whacks it a long way over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. That went 92 meters!

Gets it perfectly into the blockhole on off stump, Shubman Gill stays deep in the crease and digs it out to covers for a single.

Excellent running! Goes full and wide now, Shubman Gill opens the face of the bat and squeezes it away to deep point for a couple of quick runs.

SIX! Gill gets a hold of one and the 150 comes up for Gujarat! Another slower short ball outside off and Gill picks this one, just holds his shape and flat-bats it over wide long on for a maximum.

This is good variety from Harshal Patel. Patel grunts in and bowls it back of the hand, into the surface and outside off, Vijay Shankar short-arm jabs it down to long on for a single.

Nails the yorker on the stumps, Shubman Gill is a bit surprised and jams his bat down to get it towards mid on for another run.

Gets away with it! A short ball over the stumps, Vijay Shankar gets inside the line but pulls it off the gloves to short fine leg for a single. That should have been put away.

A bit of a halt in the proceedings as Shubman Gill is on the ground due to a stiff back while the physio checks him up. He gets treated and looks good to continue. Shikhar Dhawan has handed the ball to Harshal Patel (2-0-12-1) again.

Finishes the over well does Arshdeep Singh as this is bowled full and angled into the legs. Vijay Shankar flicks it straight to deep mid-wicket and collects a single.

Goes full again and gets it spot-on on off stump, Shubman Gill can only manage to jam it down to wide long on for a single. 6 off the over with one over remaining.

Goes full and straight now, Shubman Gill watches it well and clips it away to the right of the man at deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs. Good stop in the deep from the substitute fielder.

Dug into the deck, taking pace off the ball as well and bowling it around off, Vijay Shankar swivels and pulls it dpown to fine leg for one more.

Floats this one up on the legs, Shubman Gill flicks it away in front of square leg for just another single.

Comes from around the stumps and bowls it full outside off stump, Vijay Shankar comes down the pitch and drives it away through covers for a single.

Flighted delivery on off, Vijay Shankar drives it to long off for a single to end the over.

Excellent effort there by Arshdeep Singh in the deep, saves a certain boundary. Short in length from Brar this time again on leg, Shubman Gill pulls it along the grass through square leg. Arshdeep Singh from the deep sprints to his right and puts in a timely dive. The batters complete the third in the meantime. The TV Umpire checks whether he has cleanly flicked off the ball before the ropes, and confirms that he has done it nicely. Saves one for his team.

FOUR! Gill gets to his Fifty and this has been a glorious inning. The first for him this year in the competition. Short in length, aiming the stumps, Shubman Gill rocks back quickly and pulls it with good timing for a boundary towards deep square leg.

Slower through the air on full, outside off, Shubman Gill cuts it from the inside half of the bat towards deep covers for a brace.

Bowls it straight and short on off, Vijay Shankar glances off the back foot toward deep backward square leg for a single.

Around the wicket, lands it short on off, Vijay Shankar cuts it off the back foot and finds the point fielder.

Strategic break! Gujarat have done well to accelerate in the middle phase but have also lost a couple of set batters. Skipper, Shubman Gill is still out there and he will look to take his side beyond the 190-run mark from here. Punjab have bowled decently so far and will focus on picking up a couple of more wickets in order to keep Gujarat to about 180 runs. Let's see how the first innings pans out.

Length ball on the stumps, angling in, Vijay Shankar works it to long on for a single and gets off the mark.

Vijay Shankar is the new man in.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Adamant appeal from the bowler and the keeper but Sai Sudharsan walks by himself as he has edged it. Harshal Patel bowls it short and across the off stump, and takes the pace off from the ball, Sai Sudharsan waits as the ball comes very slow toward him, and pokes it getting an outside edge. Jitesh Sharma takes a regulation grab behind the wickets on his waist height. A timely scalp for Punjab. But a sensational inning from Sai Sudharsan as he departs on 33 off just 19.

A cutter now to follow on a fullish length, outside off, Sai Sudharsan gets beaten by the lack of pace trying it go over covers.

Bangs it short but with no pace on it around off, Shubman Gill pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Keeps the short third a bit fine and bowls it on the length around off, Sai Sudharsan strides ahead and punches it through covers for a single.

Angles on the middle and off, on a hard length, Shubman Gill drives it to long on with the angle for a single.

On a hard length outside off, Gill cuts it off the back foot to third man for a single. An expensive over for Punjab as these two fetch 14 from it.

A bumper on the leg stump line, Sai Sudharsan helps it to fine leg for a single.

FOUR! This time it's the southpaw and matching shot-for-shot! Just around off on a length, Sai Sudharsan covers his off-pole and gloriously lofts it over the bowler's head for a boundary downtown.

Quick and short on off, Gill taps it to covers for a single.

SIX! Gill is in acceleration mode now! Straight and on a length, on off, Shubman Gill lofts it with the straight bat over the bowler's head for a giant six. The sheer sound when it left from the willow. Phew, he strikes a pose as well.

On the back of a length outside off, Sai Sudharsan punches it off the back foot to covers for a single.

On a length on leg, Sai Sudharsan nudges it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! He has got the gift of timing and he has done it with regularity! Short in length this time from Raza on the stumps, Sai Sudharsan is quick to rock back and pull it solidly through mid-wicket for a boundary.

FOUR! Swept away neatly and Sai Sudharsan is looking in a really good nick. 100 comes up for Gujarat. Raza lands it on the middle and leg, on a fuller length, Sai Sudharsan sweeps it through backward square leg for a boundary.

Quick and short on the leg stump, Shubman Gill pulls it to square leg for one.

FOUR! What a cracking shot that! The regular leg spinner on the off, Shubman Gill anticipates the length early and skips the down the track before smashing it right straight down the ground for a boundary.

Quicker and on the fullish length on off, Shubman Gill quickly prods ahead and eases it to Raza.

Slows the pace on off, Shubman Gill waits for it and drags it to long on for an easy single to end the over.

Short in length on the leg stump line, Sai Sudharsan climbs on the bounce and pulls it towards deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Errs in line and gets punished! Slower one, floated up full but on the legs and angling down as well, Sai Sudharsan gets enough bat on it to tickle it down to fine leg for four runs.

Dugs it in a bit short and at the body, Sai Sudharsan looks to rock back and pull but misses and gets hit on the body.

Good length again, this time around the leg stump, flicked away past square leg for one more.

On a good length and outside off, Sai Sudharsan reaches out and dabs it wide of third man looking for two but gets a single only.

Sam Curran (1-0-10-0) is back into the attack. He replaces Harpreet Brar.

A single to end the over and at the halfway mark, Gujarat are 83/2! On the shorter side again a dn this is pulled away through mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! A shot of a man brimming with confidence! Bowled short and over middle stump, Sai Sudharsan is quick to rock back and is able to power the pull shot well in front of square on the leg side for a boundary.

The regular off-spinner now, a bit full and around off, pushed back to the bowler.

Slightly shorter on middle and this is whipped away nicely but straight to deep mid-wicket for one more.

Comes around the wicket to the left-hander and bowls it on a nagging length on off stump, Sai Sudharsan nudges it to the vacant mid-wicket region looking for two but the bowler is quick to get to it and keeps it to one.

Begins with a bit of a half-tracker on middle and leg, Shubman Gill stylishly pulls it towards deep square leg for a single. It was an attempted carrom ball actually.

Just one over for Harshal Patel as Sikandar Raza is brought into the attack now.

FOUR! Deft touch from Sai Sudharsan! A bit flatter and angling across the left-hander, Sai plays it really late and just deflects it off the face of the bat down to third man for a boundary.

Floated up around middle, Shubman Gill pushes this one through mid on for a single.

Full and angled well across the left-hander, Sai Sudharsan creams the cover drive first up but Kagiso Rabada at long off sprints quickly to his right and dives right in to keep it down to just a single. Top cricket all-around.

Sai Sudharsan is in at number 4 for Gujarat.

OUT! CAUGHT! Straight to the fielder and Kane Williamson will be disappointed with that shot! Bowled a bit short and wide, turning away and there to be hit. Kane makes room to cut but is undone by the extra bounce in the pitch and ends up getting it off the outer half of the bat and straight to backward point where Jonny Bairstow takes a comfortable catch around his waist and the partnership is broken.

FOUR! Classy shot from a classy player! Keeps it a bit full and around off, Kane Williamson makes some room and goes inside out through the cover region and finds the boundary.

Nicely flighted on a fuller length and a bit quicker too around off, Kane Williamson goes on the back foot and cuts it to point.

Strategic Break! Gujarat would be quite happy with the way they are cruising gently with no such damage on their part. Shubman Gill and Kane Williamson have assessed the conditions pretty well and look well-settled. They have kept the scoreboard ticking by rotating the strike. Kane Williamson played some glorious shots from the get-go and these two stitched a decent partnership already. Punjab bowlers haven't found much success apart from Kagiso Rabada dismissing Wriddhiman Saha. Punjab would be desperate to get a couple of wickets from here and build some pressure from the mid overs.

Slightly fuller and sliding back on from the fifth stump line, Shubman Gill gets on the front foot and punches it sweetly to covers.

Fractionally short and at the body, wristed away by Kane Williamson to deep square leg for one more.

Good length on middle and angling in at 139 clicks, Shubman Gill pushes it out through mid-wicket and turns the strike over right after the boundary.

FOUR! Nicely played! Banged in short and quite wide of the off stump, Shubman Gill leaps up and slaps it aerially over backward point for a boundary.

Goes full now and tries to angle it into the stumps, Kane Williamson charges down the track but can't quite get it wide enough of mid off and picks up just another single.

Starts with a short ball, bowled into the pitch and around off at just 121 clicks, Shubman Gill gets on top of the bounce and pulls it flatn down to deep mid-wicket for one run.

Harshal Patel comes into the attack now.

Slightly quick and flat, targeting middle stump, Kane Williamson rocks back a touch and punches it straight to covers. Tidy from Harpreet Brar, just 5 runs off it.

Pushed through a bit quicker and around off, Kane Williamson pushes it out on the off side.

Excellent running! Fuller and outside off, Kane Williamson leans ahead and chips it deliberately over covers and wide of long off for a couple of quick runs. A better throw from Sam Curran and Shubman Gill might have been in trouble.

Sloppy from Prabhsimran Singh. Flatter one angled into the legs, Kane Williamson flicks it around the corner to short fine leg where Singh gets undone by the spin on the ball and the batters get a brace.

On the shorter side on off stump and turning away a bit, Shubman Gill stays back and tucks it away past square leg for a single.

Floats it up full and around off, Shubman Gill drives it off the front foot and straight to extra cover.

Harpreet Brar (1-0-7-0) comes back into the attack. He replaces Kagiso Rabada.

Bowls it into the pitch and outside off, Kane Williamson looks to come forward and slap it away but mistimes it towards cover. At the end of the Powerplay, Gujarat are 52/1!

The off-cutter now, on a good length and angled well into the stumps, Kane Williamson watchfully defends it out.

FOUR! Pleasing to the eye! Slower once again but a lot more full and outside off, Kane Williamson just prods forward and pushes it through extra cover for a boundary. the 50 comes up for Gujarat as well.

Drags the length back and bowls it slower again around off, Kane Williamson is early into the shot and ends up lifting it off the leading edge over covers for am couple of more runs.

FOUR! Edged away! Switches to around the wicket for the new batter and bowls it a bit slower and fuller outside off, Kane Williamson looks to cover drive but gets an outside edge past the keeper and into the third man fence.

Leg bye! Starts from over the stumps and bowls it on a dragged length, getting it to swing in from leg stump. Shubman Gill gets rapped on the thigh pads and scampers through for a leg bye as the ball rolls towards backward point.

Sam Curran replaces Arshdeep Singh to bowl the last over of the mandatory Powerplay.

Kagiso Rabada keeps hitting the deck hard, and keeps the channel around off, Kane Williamson watches the ball closely and lets it come to him before he defends it solidly on the back foot underneath his eyes.

Short in length, and around off, Kane Williamson stands tall on the bounce and defends it to the bowler.

On the back of a length on the stumps again, Shubman Gill taps it in front of mid and shoots off for a quick single.

Aims the stumps with an inward movement, Kane Williamson defends it off the inside edge to short fine and takes a single.

FOUR! Glorious shot that from Kane Williamson and he gets his first boundary! Shade on the length around off, Kane Williamson gives himself a touch of room by shuffling and skipping down the track a bit before punching it through cover-point for a boundary. What a sheer timer of the cricket ball he is!

Good length around off, Kane Williamson prods forward and defends it to the off side.

EDGED AND FOUR! Shubman will take it but a good delivery from Arshdeep Singh! Keeps it on the length around off, with an extra bit of bounce on it, Shubman Gill's eyes get lit up with the bounce and it takes his outside edge and flies through the slip cordon for a boundary.

Gets off the mark with a single. On the back of a length around off, Kane Williamson stays inside the crease and caresses it to third man for a single.

A nice channel there! Test match line and length! Bowls right in the corridor of uncertainty on off and on a length, Kane Williamson draws his front foot ahead and tries to poke but gets beaten on the outside edge as he plays it inside the line of the ball. A good carry to the keeper as well.

Keeps the line tight on the off stump and the length almost on the halfway, Kane Williamson stays on the back foot looking to dab it with soft hands but he inside edges onto the pads to the off side.

A bit more wide outside off, but keeps the length the same, Shubman Gill stays on the back foot and cuts it towards deep extra cover for a single.

Slants it across off on a length at 131 clicks, Shubman Gill gets ahead and defends it on the up to the off side.

Kane Williamson walks in at number 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! Kagiso Rabada gets the first wicket and Wriddhiman Saha departs early! Rabada bowls it right on the stump line on a fullish length, it again skids off the deck and comes to the bat quickly, Wriddhiman Saha closes the bat's face a bit too early for the flick anticipating it to come quickly, and plays it with the bottom hand. It takes the leading edge and flies up in the night sky over the mid off region where Shikhar Dhawan calls for his catch and settles under it and completes a simple catch.

FOUR! Nicely done by Saha! Pitched up with a bit of a bounce on off, Wriddhiman Saha plays it on the up and drives it over the covers for a boundary.

Length ball on the stumps, it skids a bit as well, Wriddhiman Saha blocks it back to the bowler.

A good follow-up delivery! Short in length on the stumps, Shubman Gill gets it off the thickish outside edge to point for a single.

FOUR! Gloriously flicked away! Goes a bit fuller and attacks the stumps, Shubman Gill plays it with the angle and flicks it nicely past the right of short fine for a boundary. The margin of error while bowling to him is too less.

Hits the deck hard on off, at 138 clicks, Wriddhiman Saha dabs it with soft hands off the back foot towards point and steals a quick single.

WIDE! A wild lateral movement on a length, angling on the pads. Wriddhiman Saha misses to nudge it away and Jitesh Sharma dives to his left to stop it. Wide given.

Short, on the off and middle channel, Shubman Gill swivels quickly and pulls it through square leg for a brace. A brilliant effort in the deep by Shashank Singh saves two as he sprints and dives to his left. End of an eventful over. 11 runs from it.

On the back of a length around off, Wriddhiman Saha hops on the back foot and guides it toward deep third for one.

FOUR! Superb shot that from Saha! A good use of the wrists. Inward movement on a fuller length, angling on the pads. Wriddhiman Saha flicks it neatly with his wrists uppishly over mid-wicket for a boundary on a couple of bounces in the deep.

Shaping in again on the stumps, on a length, Wriddhiman Saha pushes it to mid on.

FOUR LEG BYES! How often we have seen this! A boundary just after the review. Swings back in on a length, around the middle stump line, Wriddhiman Saha misses to flick and the ball brushes off the pads before racing away to the fence towards deep fine leg fence.

A huge shout for LBW and up goes the finger. Wriddhiman Saha takes a review after a brief chat with his partner Gill. Arshdeep Singh starts off from over the wicket and lands it right on the money, on a hard length with a bit of a movement into the batter from the middle. UltraEdge comes up and shows that no bat is involved. Ball Tracker confirms that the ball has pitched in the line of the stumps but misses the stumps due to height. Wriddhiman Saha survives and gets an early sigh of relief. A good review.

Arshdeep Singh to bowl from the other end.

SIX! What a shot! Also, this is the 300th maximum of this Indian T20 League! Brar tosses it up again on off, Shubman Gill dances down the pitch of the ball and lifts it over the bowler's head for a biggie. The ball lands right on the boundary cushions and the TV Umpire confirms that it is a six.

Tossed up outside off, Shubman Gill presses forward and pushes it to covers.

Off the mark with a single. Drifting it on the pads, Wriddhiman Saha nudges it with soft hands to square leg for a single.

Slightly around off, Wriddhiman Saha goes back and pushes it to covers.

On a dragged length again, and outside off, Wriddhiman Saha strides ahead and drives it to covers.

Brar starts off by landing on the length just around off, it keeps straight, Wriddhiman Saha punches it off the back foot to the off side.

We are all set for the game to begin! The two umpires make their way out to the middle and they are followed by Gujarat's opening pair of skipper Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha. The players of Punjab also stride out to the middle and take their places on the field. Surprisingly, Shikhar Dhawan has tossed the ball to the left-arm spinner Harpreet Brar and he will get proceedings underway here.

Punjab's ace pacer, Kagiso Rabada is down for a quick chat. Rabada says that as long as he is getting wickets, he is doing his job but it is about the team's result and hopefully they are on the right side in this match. Adds that it is identifying key moments and that will swing more games in their favor. Mentions that he doesn't mind in which phase he bowls and whenever he gets told to bowl, he is happy to do it. On Gujarat, he says that they are a phenomenal side and they have been playing some great cricket as a team and they have to play better cricket than their counterparts. Adds that Arshdeep Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Harpreet Brar and Prabhsimran Singh are a few players who have matured well in the last three seasons he has been with the franchise.

Gujarat skipper, Shubman Gill says that they would have bowled as well but it seems like an even wicket and there won't be much dew either. Adds that it is surprising that this is the first match between these two teams at this ground. Mentions that they have started well and wins on the road are crucial and they have been able to get those wins in the past seasons. Ends by informing that David Miller is out due to a niggle and Kane Williamson comes in for him.

Shikhar Dhawan, the captain of Punjab says that they will bowl first. He says it looks like a good wicket and reckons it will remain the same throughout the match. Adds a couple of games haven't gone their way but it won't be the same all the time. He mentions that they are playing decent cricket but just need to correct a few errors. Informs one change as Liam Livingstone misses out due to injury and Sikandar Raza comes in place of him.

Impact Players nominated by Punjab - Tanay Thyagarajann, Nathan Ellis, Ashutosh Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Vidwath Kaverappa.

Punjab (Playing XI) - Shikhar Dhawan (C), Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Shashank Singh, Sikandar Raza (In for Liam Livingstone), Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh.

Impact Players nominated by Gujarat - BR Sharath, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Warrier, Abhinav Manohar, Manav Suthar.

Gujarat (Playing XI) - Wriddhiman Saha (WK), Shubman Gill (C), Sai Sudharsan, Kane Williamson (In for David Miller), Vijay Shankar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Darshan Nalkande.

TOSS - Shikhar Dhawan, the captain of Punjab calls the coin toss correctly and opts to BOWL first.

On the other hand, Punjab began the tournament with a promising victory but has faced setbacks with two consecutive defeats lately. In their recent match against Lucknow, they fell short by 21 runs while chasing a challenging target of 200. Barring Shikhar Dhawan's 70 and Jonny Bairstow's 43, no other batter showed any fight. Notably, Punjab has struggled with losing wickets in clusters and their bowling unit, especially Harshal Patel, has been expensive. However, all-rounder Sam Curran has proven to be a valuable asset, and Shikhar Dhawan's contributions at the top have been instrumental. Yet, the rest of the batting lineup needs to step up to support them. Inconsistencies in the spin department have also been apparent. Looking ahead in this contest, Punjab aims to rectify these shortcomings and elevate their performance to secure crucial points in the standings by getting back to the winning ways. Will they pose a stern challenge against Gujarat in their home ground? Only time will tell. Stay tuned for the Toss and team updates.

Gujarat, currently fifth on the points table, has showcased resilience with just one loss and two wins, comprehensively defeating the dangerous Hyderabad side recently. Despite missing Mohammed Shami, their bowling unit, led by the vastly experienced Mohit Sharma and bolstered by Rashid Khan's return, has been effective. Their batting lineup, anchored by Shubman Gill and Wriddhiman Saha, appears strong with Sai Sudharsan's consistent performance at number 3 and David Miller's in-form presence. Their middle order hasn't faced much of a challenge so far, but it will be intriguing to see how they fare when tested. While Shubman Gill's leadership qualities have shown promise, he aims to bolster his run tally. As they gear up for this challenge, Gujarat will be eager to maintain their impressive track record at home and hover around the top 4 places in the points table.

Greetings, everyone, and a warm welcome! Match number 17 is just around the corner, and the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is set to host an electrifying encounter between Gujarat and Punjab. In the two games played here this season, we've seen an average first-inning score of around 160. Interestingly, one match saw the target chased down successfully, while in the other, it was defended. This indicates a balanced contest between bat and ball, making this match a thrilling prospect for all staunch cricket enthusiasts.

... MATCH DAY ...

The Indian T20 League is in full swing, delivering nail-biting contests at every turn. Brace yourself for another thrilling match as the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad gears up for Match 17 between Gujarat and Punjab. Gujarat has shown promise with two wins and just one loss, while Punjab's journey has been rocky with two consecutive defeats following their initial triumph. In their recent showdown, Gujarat displayed dominance by clinching a convincing 7-wicket victory against Hyderabad. Despite missing the services of fiery pacer Mohammed Shami for this year, Gujarat's bowling unit has held its ground, with new recruit Spencer Johnson catching the eye. Rashid Khan, recovering from injury, is gradually regaining his form and remains a formidable force on the field. Umesh Yadav and Azmatullah Omarzai have been diligently carrying out their responsibilities, while Mohit Sharma's wealth of experience has proven invaluable in spearheading Gujarat's bowling attack with finesse. He picked a superb three-wicket haul and contained the opposition batters. In their previous outing, Gujarat restricted Hyderabad to a modest total of 162 runs. The opening duo of Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill has been rock-solid, fortifying Gujarat's batting lineup. Sai Sudharsan's consistent performances have earned him the coveted number three spot, contributing a composed innings of 45 runs. Additionally, David Miller's quickfire 44 ensured Gujarat's smooth sail to victory. Meanwhile, Punjab is reeling from two consecutive defeats, prompting a deep introspection into various aspects of their performance. In their recent encounter against Lucknow, despite a commendable effort from their bowlers, they struggled to contain the opposition after being set a daunting target of 200 runs. Sam Curran, who has regained his form with both bat and ball and continued to be a pivotal figure, claiming three crucial wickets. Arshdeep Singh maintained his consistency with a couple of wickets as well. The focus now shifts to Harshal Patel, who faces the challenge of bouncing back after a lackluster performance in the previous game. Although skipper Shikhar Dhawan along with Jonny Bairstow provided a solid start with a 102-run opening partnership, Punjab faltered as their middle order failed to capitalize on the platform laid by the openers. Despite a fighting effort from Liam Livingstone, Punjab succumbed to a disappointing 21-run defeat. As they prepare to face Gujarat, Punjab will be looking for stronger contributions from their middle order and a more impactful performance from their spinners to turn the tide in their favor. Prepare for yet another exhilarating clash as Gujarat seeks to maintain its winning momentum, while Punjab aims for redemption after consecutive losses. Anticipation mounts as Punjab seeks to stage a comeback in their upcoming challenge against Gujarat, particularly with Gujarat's formidable record on their home turf. While the clash is pretty fresh among the two, Gujarat's dominance over Punjab in their head-to-head record adds an extra layer of intrigue to this contest. Whose side are you on?