The 44th match of IPL 2023 was played between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Delhi Capitals (DC) at Narendra Modi Stadium on Tuesday. After winning the toss Capitals’ decided to bat first, but the decision did not go well as they only managed to post 130/6 in 20 overs.
Mohammad Shami bowled brilliantly and reduced DC to 23 for five at one stage of the game. However, Aman Khan revived the Capitals’ innings with his remarkable half-century. He scored 51 off 44 balls, including three fours and as many sixes to help DC reach a respectable total.
In reply, the Titans could only manage to reach 125 for six in 20 overs and lost the game by five runs. GT captain Hardik Pandya scored an unbeaten 59 runs off 53 balls but failed to take his team over the finish line, Rahul Tewatia’s little cameo of getting 20 off seven balls took the game down to the wire, but veteran bowler Ishant Sharma defended 12 runs in the last over to help DC win the game.
Acknowledging the 5-run loss versus the Capitals, GT skipper Pandya disclosed what exactly went wrong for the defending champions. The 29-year-old took responsibility for the defeat and mentioned that he should have completed the game.
“Obviously, we would have taken 129 on any given day. Just lost a couple of wickets but Rahul got us back in the game. I tried hard but failed to get across the line. We were hoping to get a couple of big overs in the middle overs. We couldn’t get a rhythm as well,” Hardik said in the post-match presentation.
“If you bowl like that, then you get the team on 129 (130), I think batters disappointed. I don’t think the ball did a lot. I think it’s just that Mohammed Shami’s skill set which he has and he made the ball talk,” he added.
