GT vs PBKS IPL 2024 Highlights: Shashank Singh, Ashutosh Sharma help Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by three wickets in last over thriller

Shashank Singh: Still trying to sink in. Visualised all these things, but when it turned into reality, proud of the effort. When I go to bat I think I am the best. 

This statement from Shubman Gill, who finds himself on the losing side, sums up why this tournament has been so important for Indian cricket. Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma - the stars of a memorable Punjab Kings victory. 

After two disappointing losses, Punjab Kings has found a way to break the rut. A nice three wicket win with a lot of character from its batters. 

Darshan Nalkande is given the ball. How about that for faith? HE STRIKES FIRST BALL! OH MY WORD, THE DRAMA! He begins with a slower one and Ashutosh skies the ball. It’s a simple catch for Rashid Khan at long on. Nalkande bowls short with the ball going over the batter Harpreet Brar’s head. Wide given. Shubman has a hand on his bowler’s shoulder. Six needed off five now. Fine leg comes in to the circle. Mid on drops back. Nalkande bowls similarly and a wide is given. This time, Wriddhiman Saha asks for it to be reviewed. Good sense prevails as the wide is recalled. Harpreet then runs a single. The equation is down to five runs off three balls and Shashank Singh is on strike. Luck favours the brave and Shashank’s attempt to flick the ball produces a big outside edge which runs down short third for four. Scores level. Shubman brings the fielders in to deny the single. Nalkande goes for the yorker, which Shashank manages to dispatch. It runs behind him but Saha stops the ball. However, umpire gives the bye. Gujarat reviews for lbw, but the batter is in the clear. Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans by three wickets. What a match.

Mohit Sharma returns. Begins with a low full toss which is thumped for a single. Ashutosh Sharma then uses Mohit’s drop in pace to slog the ball over midwicket for SIX. Mohit sticks to the slower ball and Ashutosh tries again, but doesn’t get the distance. Sai Sudarshan sends it back to safety. Ashutosh has been stepping well behind in the crease to allow himself some room. The result - the equation is down to seven runs needed off the last six balls. 18 runs conceded in this over. It will all presumably come down to Umesh Yadav. This is now Punjab’s game to lose. 

Omarzai is given the ball. Ashutosh gets going with back to back fours - first over square leg and the next a ramp shot over the keeper’s head. Short balls from Omarzai is making it easy for the Punjab batters. 33 needed off 16. Shashank Singh brings up his fifty. A brave effort from the player, almost playing in a different sphere altogether. Maiden IPL fifty for the Punjab batter. 16 runs come off this over from Omarzai. Incredibly expensive from the Afghan. Will this cost GT? 

Mohit returns for his third over. Punjab needs 47 off 24. He begins with a quicker ball rising up to the batter. It is negotiated for a single by Ashutosh Sharma. Ashutosh then sends the ball high and Umesh Yadav spills a chance by the ropes, as he loses his balance. He tries to find the big shot yet again, but the ball lands safely. No harm, no foul. Six runs come off Mohit’s over. 

Rashid to bowl out. Jitesh Sharma now starts to go bonkers. Two back to back sixes. one over long off and one over midwicket. He then sends in a full toss and Jitesh does not middle that properly, holing out to Nalkande at deep midwicket. The keeper-batter is distraught. If he could stay, it would mean security for Punjab’s hopes in this game. Everything rests on Shashank’s shoulders now. 

The timeout has been taken now. Punjab needs 50 runs in 27 balls.

Punjab makes its impact substitute. Ashutosh Sharma comes in for Arshdeep Singh. This is the same man who broke Yuvraj Singh’s record for fastest T20 fifty last year. Punjab will want him to channel that energy today. 

He gets off the mark with a single. Rashid bowls out. 

Mohit comes in for his second over. 69 needed off 36 balls for Punjab. Jitesh is on strike. Mohit begins with a ball flying over the batter’s head. Jitesh manages a single through midwicket, bringing Shashank back on strike. Mohit goes slow to the in-form batter. But Shashank will NOT be denied as he sends the ball flying over mid off for four. Nervous faces in the Punjab dugout cannot celebrate. Not just yet. Shashank is now making this look effortless as he smacks the ball to midwicket. Sai Sudarshan does well to field this and save a few runs for his side. Oh, Shashank almost cuts back into his stumps. That inside edge has Mohit tempted, but he is not rewarded. 

Rashid returns for his third over. Punjab needs 81 runs in 42 balls.

Rashid employs his googly and a tossed up offering to draw something from the batters. Omarzai throws himself by the ropes to save two runs for his side. The GT fielding has been top notch but what can you do if the ball goes beyond the fence? That’s what Shashank Singh is doing as he smacks Rashid for SIX, this one slogged over midwicket. 

Mohit Sharma strikes off the second ball of his over. A back of the hand delivery foxes the allrounder and he edges the ball to the keeper. He goes for a 16-ball 15. Jitesh is the new batter in and is greeted with a bouncer. Some nervy running for this pair follows as they try and find a rhythm to keep Punjab in the hunt. Shashank wants to almost do it singlehandedly, with a ramp shot over the keeper for four. 

Noor Ahmad returns. After a miserly start, Shashank belts Noor through long on for four. He is trying to score in the v before and behind him and has raced away to 25 in just nine balls. 10 runs come off the over. 

Punjab Kings needs 90 runs in 48 balls.

Umesh Yadav returns for his third. Sikander Raza attempts a ramp shot and Noor Ahmad almost took a single handed catch there. But it slips away and runs away for two. Shashank Singh then cuts the ball through the gap past slip for four. Umesh botches his line and Shashank pulls the ball for six over long off. Nice little over this is turning out to be for Punjab Kings. Shashank cuts once more, with the ball running away for four through third man. 17 runs come off the over. Punjab brings up its team 100. 

Noor to Raza. A double and a dot ball to start the over. Raza sweeps it trough square leg but finds a fielder, just a single. Noor finds the pads of Shashank Singh, umpire says not-out but Gill takes a review!

The ball was pitching in line but the wickets missing, it stays not-out! The next delivery, Shashank steps out and lofts it straight for a SIX!!!

Omarzai comes in for his third over. OUT!!! Sam Curran tries to pull it on-side but gives away a simple catch at mid-wicket to Kane Willliamson! Fiver runs and wicket, brilliant over by Omarzai!

Noor to Curran. The first delivery spins outside the leg-stump and beats Saha behind, but Williamson stops the ball from running away for a boundary. OUT!!! Prabhsimran walks away as his top-edge gives away a simple catch at gully to Mohit Sharma! Four runs come off of the next three balls. A dot to end the Noor over. 

Rashid to Prabhsimran turns the ball away on the first delivery, a dot ball. FOUR!! A slod-sweep by the right-hand batter that goes over mid-wicket for a boundary. A single follows as Sam Curran takes the strike. A dot and two single next. Seven runs come off of that over. 

Noor Ahmed has come to bowl the last over of the powerplay. Bowled!!!! Bairstow walks back to the dugout as the ball turns in and finds the stumps!

Sam Curran joins Prabhsimran to bat. FOUR!!! Prabhsimran sweeps it behind for a cheeky boundary. A single and a dot ball follows. 

Rashid Khan to Bairstow. A quick double to start the over. Another quick single as Punjab chases the big target. Prabhsimran sweeps it on-side but just two off of it after a good slide by Sudharsan on the boundary line. FOUR!!!! Prabhsimran steps away from the wicket and hit it behind square for the boundary. Another sweep but just a dot ball to finish the over.

SIX to open the third over! Umesh bowls it towards the leg stump which is flicked by Prabhsimran for a maximum! A dot follows. FOUR!!! Prabhsimran steps out and lofts it straight over the wicket for a boundary. A single follows as Darshan Nalkande makes a brilliant save on the boundary line. Bairstow takes a single and keeps the strike for the next over. 

Omarzai to Bairstow. A full ball that is driven through the covers by the Brit, FOUR runs! A single and a dot follows as Prabhsimran is on strike. The batter steps out and flick it over square leg but just one comes off of it. A iquick single to end the over as Prabhsimran retains the strike. 

Dhawan OUT!!! An inside edge hits the stumps as Umesh Yadav gets a wicket with his first delivery. Prabhsimran takes the strike and gets a quick single to get off the mark. A single and a dot follows. FOUR!!! Prabhsimran pulls it away for a boundary on the on-side to end the over. 

Omarzai opens the bowling for GT to Dhawan and Bairstow. A single to start the over. FOUR!!! An outside edge of Bairstow finds the boundary as the third-man, Noor Ahmed misfields!
An in-swinger follows that goes for a dot. FOUR!!! Another boundary for Bairstow as he drives it through the covers! Another similar shot on the off-side that runs away for a FOUR!!! A dot to end the over. 

GT’s Tewatia has been subbed out for Mohit Sharma who comes in as the impact sub!

Nice to be out there after long. Shame to lose Davey for a week or two. Reasonably competitive total. Hope to do well in the second half. (On Gill) What a gifted player. He’s going to keep getting better. 

Shubman Gill leads from the front, carrying his bat through the innings to take GT to 199. Punjab Kings has a massive task on hand to get 200 to win this game. 

Arshdeep to bowl the final over and he starts with a full toss. It is saved by Brar in the deep. Two runs for GT. Gill then runs a single, with Bairstow doing the needful at long on. Another full toss, this time to Tewatia, is sent straight to the square fielder. Gill is eyeing a century but Arshdeep allows just the single and it gets the GT captain off strike. Arshdeep is a smart cookie, he is bowling to his field and not allowing the duo to try anything audacious just yet. I’ve spoken too soon. Tewatia dispatches Arshdeep through the on side for four. One bounce and past the rope. He tries to replicate the shot and finds the ropes yet again, this time smacking a full toss while going on one knee. 199 is what Gujarat will finish with, all thanks to Tewatia’s smarts. Makes you wonder, why did Vijay Shankar come ahead of him? 

Harshal will bowl out. Stays low and slow and Gill sweeps for a single. Rahul Tewatia is itching to score and he does, and nonchalantly dispatches a low full toss with a flick to over the fence. Where is the power coming from? So sublime! Looks like Harshal was trying a yorker but it didn’t quite come through. Harshal then gets his line all awry. No ball given. Tewatia then sends the ball to the ropes but a fielder has intercepted it. But it is being reviewed. Did his knee touch the cushion? Nope. Runs saved. Another wide from Harshal. Tewatia then finds the boundary. Walks across a bit to the six stump line and flicks it to the ropes. How he has found and placed the ball in this gap is incredible! Harshal goes a bit high this time. Tewatia reviews for a wide and is given the extra. Sixteen already from this over, making it the most expensive over of the innings. Harshal responds with a wide yorker which makes Tewatia lose balance, but no harm done with a single coming off it. OH and DRAMA off the last ball. HAS GILL BEEN RUN OUT? It looked like Gill was in some trouble here as he wanted to run the third. Reviews show he is safe. 

Rabada to bowl out and what better way to welcome the South African than this monstrous six! Clobbered over midwicket! Right in the slot too from Rabada. He’s not done. He goes straight this time, with a flat bat, for four. Disdain! Gill is lighting up the night sky here in Ahmedabad. He goes for the same shot, but hasn’t timed it this time and it is intercepted. Vijay Shankar goes boundary hitting too but holes out to Harpreet Brar at long off. Might not be the worst thing for GT now, Vijay Shankar was not middling it all too well. This will allow a pinch hitter time to do their thing. In walks Rahul Tewatia. A couple of singles are run. 13 runs come off this over. Shubman retains strike. 

Shubman Gill is on the floor, getting some attention from the physio for his lower back. One can imagine how draining it must be to bat in the heat in Ahmedabad. But GT needs its captain to stay put and see the side through to a good total. Harshal to bowl his third, Vijay Shankar is on strike. He needs to take responsibility here and tries to pull the ball, but it goes off his gloves. Just the single for him and it brings Gill back on strike. Harshal darts in with a yorker. Nicely done, as Gill canters for just a single. Shankar manages a single yet again. Gill then sends the ball over the fence, managing to flatten his bat to get the ball over long on. Brings up the 150 for GT. Gets two off the last ball. Good commitment despite the bodily discomfort. Harshal concedes 12 off this over and looks a bit exasperated at the end of it all. 

Arshdeep comes in for his third over of the night and Vijay Shankar drives through cover for a single. Gill follows, with a single through midwicket, off a yorker. Arshdeep then sends in a slower bouncer, which goes to deep square leg. Just a single yet again for GT. Sublimg timing from Shubman as he runs two after sending the ball so easily through midwicket. Seven runs come off the over in total. 

Harpreet Brar will bowl out and gets off to a conservative start. Brar tries to go into the pads to Vijay Shankar, the batter clips it to the leg side for a single. Gill then gets two through cover. He then swats the ball to the square boundary to bring up his half century. Arshdeep then saves a run for his team as he stops the ball from getting past the ropes at fine leg. 11 runs conceded by Brar as he wraps up for the night. 

What can Harshal Patel do? Punjab is criminally leaking boundaries here and it will cost them dearly if this continues. 

Harshal oscillates with length deliveries and has managed to keep things quiet for the timebeing. No width at all. He then sends one tempting Sai Sudarshan to dispatch it for a few runs, but it ends up going to Jitesh behind the stumps, who takes a simple catch. The umpire takes a few seconds to mull over the passage of play and raises his finger. Vijay Shankar is the new batter in. Just four runs and the wicket from this over. Brilliant over from Harshal Patel. 

The second time-out of the innings is taken. Make sure to grab some refreshments as we wait and see how Gujarat ends its batting innings.

Rabada in for his third over of the night. Sai Sudarshan steals a single. Shubman Gill then treats Rabada with disdain, smacking this with a straight bat over the bowler’s head for six. So much grace from Gill. A single brings Sai Sudarshan back on strike and he is not to be left behind. He drives Rabada getting some elevation on the ball and sending it through mid-off for four. 14 runs off the Rabada over in total. 

Raza in for his second. Starts with a dot ball, a ball rooting the batter to the crease. Shubman then frees up his arms and sends the ball hurling past the bowler to the boundary. Raza’s legbreak in vain there. The pair then run a single. Sai Sudarshan then gets on his knees and hookes the ball to the boundary. He hits another boundary, this time through midwicket. Nice neat pull this one. Raza was too short and served it to Sai Sudarshan on a platter. He goes a little fuller, allowing the GT batter just the single. Expensive over this from Raza. 14 runs off it,. 

Sam Curran returns for a second over. Curran starts with a length ball but pegs it back with a slow one right after. After another dot, which beats the batter, Sai Sudarshan then manages to send the ball fine to the boundary. Curran concedes eight runs off the over. 

Sanjay Bangar, the Director of Cricket for Punjab Kings, says the surface is playing well and that the team was expecting bounce to come into play. 

Impact sub of the night Sikander Raza to Gill who switches the strike to open the tenth over. Two more singles next as Gill tries to find the boundary through mid-wicket but finds a fielder. Sudharsan pulls it through the on-side for a strong FOUR!!! A similar shot again but straight to the fielder, just a single. 

Brar to Kane Williamson. A dot to open the over. Williamson steps out and plays it through mid-off for a FOUR!!!

OUT!!! Williamson walks as he tries to square it through point but gives away an easy catch to Bairstow!

Sudharsan tries to start strong as he plays a big shot through mid-on but only gets a single. Another single follows. Sudharsan squares it behind for a FOUR!!!

Harshal Patel bowls his first over of the night to Gill who switches the strike off of the first delivery. FOUR!!! A single follows. A short one this time as Gill finds the boundary with a well-timed upper-cut!

Two singles follow as Gill faces Harshal again for the last ball. A dot to end the over. 

Brar back with the ball. Good running between the wickets by Titans as it gets five runs, but no boundaries in that over. 

Sam Currans bowls the last over of the batting powerplay. Gill switches strike to open the over. Currran finds the outside edge of Williamson as the ball runs behind beating the short third man for a FOUR!!!

Williamson tries to loft it over the covers but only gets two. FOUR!!! This time, Kane drives it low and through the covers for the second boundary of the over. Two dots follows to end the over. 

Rabada to Williamson as he drives the first ball through the covers for a FOUR!!! Two singles and a two dots to end the over. 

Arshdeep to Gill, starts with a dot and a single. Kane Williamson plays his first delivery of IPL 2024, goes for a dot. Kane squares it through the gully for a single and gets off the mark. An outside edge by Gill as the ball runs behind for a FOUR!!!

First bowling change for Punjab and it is Rabada who starts off with a wide. A single follows as Gill takes strike. He flicks it behind through fine leg for a FOUR!!!

A single next as Saha takes the strike again. A dot and FOUR follows as he drives it through the covers for a boundary. OUT!!! Rabada finds the top edge of Saha as Dhawan takes a simple catch!

Arshdeep bowls from the other end and finds Saha’s pads from the first delivery! Umpire says out but GT has taken a review. It is pitching in line but the wickets are missing. Saha is NOT OUT!!

FOUR!!! Saha gets a leg-bye boundary. A dot follows. Saha pulls it over mid-wicket for a FOUR!!! GT switches the strike as Gill faces Arshdeep for the last delivery. Gill pulls the short ball through the square leg but only gets two. 

Brar opens the over with three dot balls to Saha. The batter flicks it on-side and gets a single. A dot ball follows. Gill steps out and strikes it straight for a SIX!!!!

Brar opens the bowling for PBKS! 

The umpires, the batters and the PBKS squad have taken the field! 

Gujarat Titans has a 67 per-cent win record at its home stadium!

Gujarat Titans: Wriddhiman Saha(w), Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Kane Williamson, Vijay Shankar, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Umesh Yadav, Darshan Nalkande

Impact subs list: BR Sharath, Mohit Sharma, Sandeep Warrier, Abhinav Manohar, Manav Suthar 

Punjab Kings: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shashank Singh, Sikandar Raza, Harpreet Brar, Harshal Patel, Kagiso Rabada, Arshdeep Singh

Impact subs list: Tanay Thyagarajan, Nathan Ellis, Asutosh Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Vidwath Kaverappa

Punjab Kings: Livingstone out; Sikander Raza in

Gujarat Titans: David Miller out; Kane Williamson in

Shikhar Dhawan wins the toss and opts to bowl, saying it looks like a good surface to chase on. He says the team needs to show 10 percent improvement. Shubman Gill taked the mic, to much cheer from the crowds, and says Gujarat would have liked to bowl first too. 

“We are on Pitch No. 6. We were here 4 times last season and in those 4 matches three of them were won by the chasing team. So I expect that to come into play tonight at the toss. This pitch has black and red soil, a mixture of both. It’s rock hard and has 3mm of grass on it so I expect to have good pace and bounce so I expect plenty of runs tonight. GT have won 8 out of 12 games here” 

Let’s begin with the pitch dimensions: square boundaries are 63 metres each while the fine ones are 55 and 56 metres each. . The long boundary on each side is 68 to 70 metres. There is some grass on the pitch so one can expect to see some pace and bounce. An interesting contest awaits. 

PBKS, which started with a victory over Delhi Capitals, is coming off two dispiriting losses against Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Lucknow Super Giants. It could have had one if it had not frittered away the chance from a commanding position against LSG. Chasing 200, PBKS was 102 for no loss before being blinded by Mayank Yadav’s searing pace. Shikhar Dhawan, Prabhsimran Singh, Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran have been among the runs, but haven’t fired collectively. Livingstone suffered a hamstring injury against LSG that hampered his batting, and his fitness will be assessed on matchday morning.

Medium-pacer Harshal Patel has bled 137 runs from 12 overs while tweaker Rahul Chahar has blown hot and cold. Will the in-form Karnataka pacer Vidwath Kaverappa make his IPL bow? 

The Indian Premier League (IPL) recorded a viewership of 35 crore in its first 10 matches, which is higher than any previous edition of the tournament, including the seasons played during the COVID-19 pandemic, the event’s official broadcaster claimed on Thursday.

As per BARC data released by Disney Star, the overall watch-time for the tournament has sky-rocketed to 8,028 crore minutes which is 20 per cent higher than last year.

Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings have only played each other thrice in the history of the IPL with GT winning two games. Here’s the full breakdown of this rivalry. 

GT vs PBKS, IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings head-to-head record; overall stats, highest run-getters, wicket-takers

GT vs PBKS, IPL 2024: Here are all the head-to-head numbers and stats you need to know ahead of the Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings match in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

While Gujarat Titans comes into the contest on the back of a convincing seven-wicket win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings will be licking its wounds after the team bore the brunt of Mayank Yadav’s searing pace in a 21-run defeat to Lucknow Super Giants last week.

The IPL 2024 match between the Gujarat Titans vs Punjab Kings will be televised on the Star Sports Network in India. The fixture will also be streamed live on the JioCinema app and website.

Bat 1st: Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Prabhsimran Singh, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Harshal Patel, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar.

Bowl 1st: Shikhar Dhawan, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Jitesh Sharma, Liam Livingstone, Shashank Singh, Harshal Patel, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh

Bat 1st: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill (c), Sai Sudharsan, Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson. 

Bowl 1st: Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Shubman Gill (c), Vijay Shankar, David Miller, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, R. Sai Kishore, Umesh Yadav, Spencer Johnson, Mohit Sharma. 

GT - Shubman Gill (c), David Miller, Matthew Wade, Wriddhiman Saha, Kane Williamson, Abhinav Manohar, B. Sai Sudharsan, Darshan Nalkande, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmad, Sai Kishore, Rashid Khan, Joshua Little, Mohit Sharma, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Shahrukh Khan, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi, Manav Suthar, Spencer Johnson, Sandeep Warrier, BR Sharath.

PBKS - Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Prabhsimran Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajann, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw. 

Hello and welcome to Sportstar’s live coverage of the Indian Premier League 2024 match between Gujarat Titans and Punjab Kings from the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.