IPL 2022: Never-say-die Gujarat Titans takes on inconsistent Punjab Kings

Punjab Kings has been inconsistent with five defeats in nine outings and it needs to regroup in a bid to stay in contention for the playoffs.

Published : May 02, 2022 19:59 IST , NAVI MUMBAI

Rahul Tewatia, who has donned the finisher's role for Gujarat, struck two last ball sixes to clinch a win for his side against Punjab in their last meeting.
Rahul Tewatia, who has donned the finisher's role for Gujarat, struck two last ball sixes to clinch a win for his side against Punjab in their last meeting.
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Rahul Tewatia, who has donned the finisher's role for Gujarat, struck two last ball sixes to clinch a win for his side against Punjab in their last meeting.

The last time Gujarat Titans faced Punjab Kings in an Indian Premier League (IPL) fixture, Rahul Tewatia hit two sixes off the last two deliveries to seal the deal for the new entrant.

And when the two teams meet at the DY Patil Stadium on Tuesday, Gujarat Titans, which has won eight out of nine games, will once again be pinning its hopes on Tewatia. After being roped in by the Titans for a whopping Rs 9 crore in the auction, the all-rounder from Haryana has justified his price tag, emerging as one of the match-winners for the franchise.

RELATED | Rahul Tewatia does it again, this time at Wankhede

The Titans have fired in every department, under the watchful eyes of captain Hardik Pandya. While Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill have made their presence felt as openers, the middle-order has been solid with Hardik, David Miller and Rashid Khan. Coming into the tournament after a long break, Hardik has so far amassed 308 runs in the tournament and has led the side from the front.

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, has been inconsistent with five defeats in nine outings and it needs to regroup in a bid to stay in contention for the playoffs. Even though skipper Mayank Agarwal, batters Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow and Liam Livingstone have done well in patches, and their lack of consistency has been a concern.

While pacer Arshdeep Singh has impressed, the seasoned campaigners Kagiso Rabada and Rahul Chahar need to shoulder more responsibility and be consistent.

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