The Gujarat Titans (GT) experienced a 27-run rout against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Arena on Friday, May 12. Thus, MI climbed to third place in the IPL rankings, while GT held ahead of all comers. MI batted first, and after 20 overs, they scored a commanding 218/5. The MI batsmen were led by Suryakumar Yadav, who scored a century (103* runs off 49 balls). Yadav had a strike rate of 210.20 and hit 11 boundaries and 6 maximums in his short innings.
Suryakumar Yadav unleashed his 360-degree variety of blows, crushing the GT bowlers all over the field. Ishan Kishan, Rohit Sharma, Nehal Wadhera, and Vishnu Vinod, all of whom made brief cameo appearances, showed their strong support for SKY. Rashid Khan excelled in the bowling department for the Titans, taking four wickets and only allowing 30 runs in four overs. Later, the Afghanistan player would do the same with the bat.
At the point when GT answered, they were in serious trouble at 103/8 in 13.2 overs. David Mill operator (41 runs off 26 balls) and Rashid Khan (79* runs off 32 balls) were the main GT batsmen to introduce a protection from the hosts.
With his knock, Rashid raised the GT total to a respectable level. The all-rounder hit a stunning knock with 10 sixes and three boundaries. GT finished with a total of 191/8 after 20 overs.
In light of this, let us examine the three advantages GT gained from MI’s defeat.
1) All-around spectacular performance by Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan was the main GT bowler who figured out how to keep the MI hitters under control. The leg spinner gave up just 30 runs at an economy rate of 7.50 in his four overs. He also took Tim David, Rohit Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Nehal Wadhera’s crucial wickets. MI might have reached a total of 235-240 in their 20 overs without him.
GT responded by bat, falling to 103/8 in the 14th over. It appeared that the visitors would lose a significant 100 runs, which would hurt their net run rate.
However, Rashid Khan scored an unbeaten fifty with a strike rate of 246.88, scoring 79* runs off 32 balls. With the sort of structure he was in, had he got another 10 balls, he could have finished his hundred as well as taken his group to triumph. In any case, he brought the edge of rout of his side down from a three-figure score to only 27 runs.
2) The superb cameo of Vijay Shankar
Vijay Shankar (29 runs off 14 balls) played a forceful appearance for his side as wickets continued to tumble around him. In an innings, the batting all-rounder hit six fours at a strike rate of 207.14.
He would be furious at himself for misinterpreting Piyush Chawla’s googly, which resulted in his clean bowling out. Had he kicked on to make a major score, the consequence of the match might have been unique.
Shankar has scored 234 runs in 10 matches this year, batting at a fantastic strike rate of 163.64 and an incredible average of 39. In addition to assisting his team in successfully defending the IPL title, he will be hoping to maintain his excellent form to rekindle hopes of making a comeback with the Indian team.
3) David Miller pitches well for GT.
As wickets kept falling around David Miller, he played a counter-attacking innings for his team, scoring 41 runs off 26 balls. The South African struck 4 limits and 2 sixes in a thump that came at a high strike-pace of 157.69.
Very much like Shankar, he would be frustrated at not changing over his aggresive innings into a major score for his side.
Miller has scored 242 runs in 11 games this year, scoring at a brilliant strike rate of 151.25 and an impressive average of 48.40. In addition, he has been unbeaten five times this year, indicating that he frequently completes innings or games for GT.
Miller will want to help GT defend their IPL title and continue his incredible run with the bat.