Captain of Gujarat Titans Shabman Gul He admitted that his team would have preferred a smoother chase but was happy to walk away with two crucial points after a hard-fought win against Punjab Kings.Chasing a sluggish 164, GT were pushed deep in the last over before cruising to a four-wicket victory, thanks to Sai Sudharsan’s 57. Washington Sundar.Reflecting on the chase, Gill said the conditions never allowed for an easy run chase. “In a chase like this, we wouldn’t have liked to take it as deep as it went but two crucial points. It’s not the kind of wicket where we’re going to chase in 15-16 overs,” he explained. The captain revealed that the team had aimed to finish a bit earlier but understood the nature of the pitch. “We thought maybe an over or two ago … that was it.”Gill highlighted the importance of set batsmen going deep, especially on a surface where making strokes was not straightforward. He said that hitting from the first ball is not easy. The length balls were not coming like other wickets. It was important for a batsman who is set.That role was played well by Siddharsan, who led the innings with a measured innings, before Sundar stepped up under pressure in the closing stages. “Fortunately we had Washi and he finished the game for us,” Gill added.The GT skipper also highlighted the team’s strategy of sending left-handers one after the other during the chase. “We just sent the best batsman we could think of in that situation,” he noted, highlighting the flexibility in his approach.Earlier in the match, GT’s fast bowlers had laid the foundation by reducing PBKS to 47 for five. Jason Holder Returning outstanding data as of 4/24 along with key contributions from Muhammad Siraj and Kagiso Rabada.With the win, Gujarat Titans moved to 12 points, staying firmly in the playoff race, while also showing their ability to finish off challenging conditions and tight games.
