Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants made their debut in the Indian Premiere League and played their first match against each other on 28th March 2022 at the Wankhade Stadium in Mumbai.
Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans and KL Rahul led the Super Giants.
The batting display by the debutants of IPL, Abhinav Manohar and Ayush Badoni was definitely ‘eye-catching’.
The LSG team seemed to defend the total well but then Gujarat Titans won this battle. The LSG team managed to make 158 for 6, whereas the Gujarat Titans made 161 for 5 in the limited over’s.
Avesh Khan and Dushmantha Chameera adapted the ‘rapid’ pace in the powerplay. The spinners could manage control in spite of the dew that was setting in the stadium. Krunal Pandya got an opportunity to bowl to his brother, Hardik Pandya, for the first time in any official match. Hardik Pandya managed 33 off only 28 balls.
Matthew Wadewas bowled by Deepak Hooda in the very next over for 30 runs made off 29 balls.
At this time, Titans required 81 runs off 49 balls. Tewatia and Miller, both of who are left-handed, were in the middle. Hooda, offspinner, was given another over by Rahul. This move worked in the ‘negative’ for the Super Giants as both, Miller and Tewatia, walloped him for a six and four each. The result was that the most ‘penetrative’ bowler of Super Giants, Chameera, got only three over’s.
Avesh managed to remove Tewatia in the 18th over and tightened the chase. The chase was tightened even more by Chameera with the 9 run over.
Avesh had to defend 10 in the last over but Tewatia and Abhinav managed to seal the deal for the Titans with 2 balls to spare and 5 wickets.
Shami and the Top Order
Mohammed Shami managed to land the very 1st ball of the match with a seam considered to be ‘bolt-upright’. This seamed away and scratched the outside edge of KL Rahul. In the early exchanges the ball was nipping around, with Shami making two incisions in the ‘power play’. He stormed through the defenses of Manish Pandey and Quinton de Kock. This left the Super Giants 29 runs for 4 in the 5th over.
Varun Aaron got Evin Lewis caught by Shubhman Gill.
Tewatia and Abhinav to finish
Hardik and Wade put 57 in 8 over’s and fell within 10 balls of each other. Tewatia managed the strong kick that the Titans needed. He dominated the 5th wicket stand of fifty runs along with Miller. The spinners were punished badly. He struck 30 runs off 15 balls from Bishnoi and Hooda. He swept in reverse Bishnoi for a 6 and also slog-swept Hooda for a 6. This messed up the line of the leg spinner and forced him to get out of his ‘comfort’ zone.
