IPL 2022: Match 4, GT vs LSG – Who Said What

The Gujarat Titans kicked off their IPL 2022 campaign with an impressive five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 28. The fourth match of this season witnessed both teams showcasing some amazing bowling as well as counter-attacking batting performances.

Senior pacer Mohammed Shami wracked havoc with the new ball as he accounted for Lucknow’s top order including the likes of skipper KL Rahul, Quinton de Kock, and Manish Pandey as they were reduced to 29/4 in the fifth over. However, debutant Ayush Badoni carried out the rescue act with 54 runs off 41 balls. He was involved in an 87-run partnership with Deepak Hooda for the fifth wicket. Hooda scored 55 runs from 41 deliveries as LSG posted a fighting total of 158/6 from their 20 overs.

Rahul Tewatia powers GT to a win

In reply, Gujarat got off to a disastrous start as Dushmantha Chameera dismissed Shubman Gill for a duck in the very first over and then went on to castle Vijay Shankar cheaply. Matthew Wade and skipper Hardik Pandya then added 57 runs for the third wicket. Wade scored 30 runs off 29 deliveries, while Hardik made 33 runs from 28 balls. South African middle-order sensation David Miller also played a handy knock of a 21-ball 30.

At one stage the match looked poised for a tight finish, but star all-rounder Rahul Tewatia ensured that the Titans did not suffer any more hiccups and went after the Lucknow bowlers. He helped the Gujarat Titans cross the finish line with two balls to spare. Tewatia remained unbeaten on 40 runs from 24 balls at a strike rate of 166.7. His knock included five fours and two sixes.

Losing skipper, KL Rahul said:

It was a phenomenal game. What a way to start the campaign. Starting off like that with the bat was not ideal but the way we recovered was phenomenal. It gives us so much confidence when the batters in the middle and lower order can do the job. We know at the Wankhede the ball can do a bit at the start and if we can get through that it will be ideal. We couldn’t have started the campaign in any better way. There is so much to take away and learn for us. Sometimes you gotta give it to the quality of the bowler. We all know how good Shami is and if anyone could exploit the pitch that is Shami. I knew he would be dangerous. It is good to see him bowl that well. With the way we finished and batted in the second half we gave ourselves a chance. It gets really difficult with the dew to grip the ball but I don’t want to give that as an excuse. We have to go back and practice bowling with the wet ball. We executed most of our plans but with a wet ball it skids on nicely. Good win for them and good learning for us. He’s (Badoni) baby AB. He has been phenomenal from the first day. For a little boy he packs a punch and plays 360 degrees, so happy for him as he grabbed the opportunity. It was not ideal for him to walk out with us four down but he did well under pressure and hopefully he can continue doing that.

Winning skipper, Hardik Pandya said:

This was the right game for us to be on either side and learn, but have learnt a lot by winning. Shami is known for his seam positions and he got us to a great start. We would have any day taken 160 on this wicket. Mostly I’ll bat at number four, because I want to take pressure with my experience so that the others can play freely. We want to win as a team and nobody can take the contribution away from us anyway. It was quite humid as well, so I wouldn’t have finished Shami’s spell over there. Manohar is some talent to look at. He is someone who you are going to hear about in the future. Getting out to Krunal would have pinched me more had we lost, but now the family is neutral and happy. He got me out and we won the match.

Player of the Match, Mohammed Shami said:

I was warmed up well. It was important to get a good start in the first match, I looked to bowl a Test match line here. I have worked very hard on this seam position. People say it is God-gifted, but that’s not the case. I try to come round the wicket to a leftie and make that angle because that’s the most uncomfortable thing for them. I just look to do that. Hardik asked me if I wanted the fourth over on the trot, but I told me to hold me back.