Twitter Reactions: Vijay Shankar's blitz and bowlers' masterclass propels GT past KKR at Eden Gardens

The T20 action continued in the Indian Premier League 2023 as Kolkata Knight Riders hosted Gujarat Titans on Saturday, April 29, at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata. Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and invited Kolkata to bat first. The decision was vindicated by Mohammed Shami, who gave the first blow to the home team dismissing opener N Jagadeesan in the third over.

Despite losing his opening partner early, Rahmanullah Gurbaz launched an onslaught on GT and made full use of the powerplay. The Afghan batter took Gujarat’s bowling to the cleaners and smacked their bowlers with utter disdain to all corners of the park. 

Gurbaz brought up his fifty in the ninth over of the innings off just 27 balls. However, he failed to get support as wickets kept falling from the other end, with Shardul Thakur (0 off 4), Venkatesh Iyer (11 off 14) and Nitish Rana (4 off 3) all getting out cheaply.

Gurbaz was involved in a 47-run stand from 32 balls with Rinku Singh (19 off 20) for the fifth wicket. The 21-year-old was finally dismissed after scoring a sensational 81 off just 39 balls, smashing five fours and seven sixes in his innings. Following his dismissal, blitzkrieg from ‘birthday boy’ Andre Russell (34 off 19) took KKR to 179/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Shami (3/33) was the pick of the bowlers for GT with his three-wicket haul, while Noor Ahmad (2/21) and Joshua Little (2/25) picked up two wickets each.

In the second innings, GT openers Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill once again got their team off to a brisk start adding 41 runs in four overs. Russel provided the first breakthrough to KKR, dismissing Saha in the fifth over. Captain Hardik Pandya walked in at No. 3 and got involved in a fifty-run stand with Gill off 39 balls.

David Miller and Vijay Shankar took GT home with their 87-run stand

Their partnership was broken by Harshit Rana, who trapped Pandya (26 off 20) in front of the stumps. Gujarat were put in a spot of bother as Gill (49 off 35) was also dismissed in the 12^th over by Sunil Narine. The match got wide open as GT required 82 off 48 balls with David Miller and Vijay Shankar at the crease.

The duo made sure there were no more hiccups in the chase with their 87-run stand off just 39 balls and helped GT chase down 180 with 13 balls to spare. Shankar played a blistering knock of 51 off 24 balls, while Miller remained unbeaten on 32* off 18 balls.

Here's how Twitter reacted:

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

VIJAY SHANKAR, THE HERO OF GUJARAT. TOP OF THE POINTS TABLE - TAKE A BOW, GT.

07:44 PM · Apr 29, 2023

1.1K84

Mufaddal Vohra@mufaddal_vohra

Madness from Vijay Shankar: 3 sixes in the over against Varun Chakravarthy.

07:40 PM · Apr 29, 2023

1.1K51

Pratik 💝💗❤️@PratikP34759420

no. 1 loading. top of list .... Congratulations 👏 well done team... hope u shanaka use in future... Always criticise krte rahete gt ko yha per khud ki team 🥲 🙂 #KKRvGT

07:46 PM · Apr 29, 2023

21

Dharmin Doshi@DharminD

Who would even in wildest dreams have thought Vijay Shankar would strike at 200 and play a match winning innings. KKR sucked big time. @KKRiders #KKRvGT #TATAIPL2023

07:46 PM · Apr 29, 2023

10

KolkataKnightRiders@KKR_FanClub

IT'S OVER! GT WON BY 7 WICKETS! #KKRvGT #AmiKKR #TATAIPL2023

07:45 PM · Apr 29, 2023

00

OTTplay@ottplayapp

KKR vs GT, IPL 2023: 50 off 24 balls, Vijay Shankar is taking his team home #KKRvsGT #KKRvGT #GT #KKR @KKRiders @gujarat_titans @IPL #IPL2O23 ottplay.com/news/kkr-vs-gt…

OTTplay@ottplayapp

KKR vs GT, IPL 2023: Revenge taken, Vijay Shankar's 50 helps Gujarat Titans win by 7 wickets #KKRvsGT #KKRvGT #GT #KKR @KKRiders @gujarat_titans @IPL #IPL2O23 ottplay.com/news/kkr-vs-gt…

07:45 PM · Apr 29, 2023

00

TOI Sports@toisports

#KKRvGT #KKRvsGT #IPL2023 Gujarat Titans (180/3) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (179/7) by 7 wickets Gujarat Titans go top of the table with convincing win FOLLOW LIVE: toi.in/gKBdKa84

07:45 PM · Apr 29, 2023

30

𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀_🇮🇳@Pkansurya007

When life gives you chance to choose between Shankar & Malya Be Vijay Shankar 💜 Well played @vijayshankar260 🔥 Best of luck for upcoming matches 👍🏻 #KKRvGT

07:45 PM · Apr 29, 2023

20

IndianPremierLeague@IPL

HALF-CENTURY for @vijayshankar260 🔥🔥 Unbelievable striking! #TATAIPL | #KKRvGT

07:45 PM · Apr 29, 2023

789

Indrajeet Choudhari@IndrajeetGamer

We win 🔥🔥 #AavaDe @GujratTitans #TATAIPL2023 #KKRvGT #GT

07:44 PM · Apr 29, 2023

00

Gujarat Titans@gujarat_titans

We WONNNNNN!! 👊⚡️👊⚡️ #GT - 180/3 (17.5 overs) #KKRvGT | #AavaDe | #TATAIPL 2023

07:47 PM · Apr 29, 2023

17129

Dugout Stories@DugoutStories

GUJARAT BATTERS HAVE IT EASY AGAINST KKR 😎 The Defending Champions✨win by 7 wickets against bottom-placed Kolkata Knight Riders 🟣🟡 #TitansFAM | #KKRvGT | #AavaDe | #TATAIPL | #AmiKKR | #DavidMiller | #ShubmanGill | @KKRiders | @gujarat_titans | @IPL | #VijayShankar

07:47 PM · Apr 29, 2023

00

S.Badrinath@s_badrinath

Version 2.0 Vijay Shankar 👌🏽 #GTvKKR

07:48 PM · Apr 29, 2023

842

Sushant Mehta@SushantNMehta

Second title loading for Gujarat Titans? Vijay Shankar, Total domination🔥 @gujarat_titans @hardikpandya7 @vijayshankar260

07:51 PM · Apr 29, 2023

311