IPL 2024: GT let themselves down, should have defended 200 vs PBKS – Vikram Solanki

Gujarat Titans’ Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki admitted they let themselves down and they should have defended 200 against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Thursday after suffering a three-wicket loss. After being put into bat by Shikhar Dhawan, the hosts posted 199 runs on the board, courtesy of a fine knock from their skipper Shubman Gill, who scored an unbeaten 89 off just 48 balls.

However, Gujarat Titans could not get the job done as they were sloppy in the field. The home team dropped three catches, which led to their downfall. Azmatullah Omarzai dropped Sikandar Raza’s catch, Umesh Yadav bungled Ashutosh Sharma’s catch and Sai Sudharsan also fluffed a difficult chance to give him one more life to Sharma.

The dropped catches proved costly as Sharma scored 17-ball 31 to add the finishing touches along with Shashank Singh, who scored a match-winning 61 off just 29 balls.

“The other team is here to play as well. The other teams are here to compete as well. We probably should have defended 200. We were in a good position. We probably let ourselves down in certain aspects of the game. We fielded very well in parts. I thought the ground fielding was outstanding, but we put some chances down. But you’re right, we should have defended it,” said Solanki while talking to reporters.

Gujarat Titans were in a shoo-in position as Punjab Kings were 70-4 while chasing 200 but the hosts’ fielders let the team down. PBKS was able to capitalize as Shashank Singh got the job done for his team.

Shubman Gill scored a fine knock but his efforts went in vain as the bowlers could not execute their plans, especially in the last five overs.

The previous season’s runners-up will next take on Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Sunday.