After Gujarat Titans defeated Lucknow Super Giants by 56 runs in Ahmedabad, Hardik Pandya praised Rashid Khan’s skillful outfield dismissal of Kyle Mayers as a “match-changing” performance. Mayers’ solid opening stand had been broken.
Mayers and Quinton de Kock put on an 88-run partnership in just 8.1 overs while chasing 228. Then, off a slower ball from Mohit Sharma, he top-edged a draw over square leg. Rashid sprinted in from fine leg, moving diagonally, and after making a last-second adjustment, slid and dove to take the catch to his right.
After losing Mayers, Super Giants lost their momentum and only scored 33 runs between overs 9 and 14, leaving them with too much to do in the final six.
Rashid’s catch, according to Hardik, changed the game while his team was under duress. The catch just changed the tempo, and we were able to sneak in a few tight overs, he said after the game. “The way the game changed after that… at one point of time at the eighth or ninth over we were even-stevens.” “And after that, I believe they chased the game harder than we did.
“We started in charge of the game. Prior to it, they were challenging [us], and we had to pursue the game and watch out for not giving up too many runs that would have allowed them to enter it. Therefore, I believe that catch changed the contest.
“I think we were both going 100 kph as a team, but I think that bump in their inning cost them the game and got us back in the game,” said the player.
In addition, Hardik commended his teammates for winning the game despite just one day of recuperation. The Titans’ most recent game took place on Friday night, and their match with the Super Giants took place on Sunday in the early game.
Hardik stated, “I don’t think I can ask the boys for much more. The boys showed up and how, especially while playing after a day-long break and playing an afternoon game.
Mohit ended with 4 for 29, his best IPL stats since 2014. Mohit provided Titans with that crucial first wicket. Despite bowling many of his overs at the end of games, he has 12 wickets in eight IPL 2023 matches with a 6.96 economy rate.
Mohit told broadcasters after the game, “We keep talking about how to do it, especially once the ball gets a little stale how we can mix it up.” “And if I get the opportunity to use a fresh ball, what can I do with it? I talked with Shami about how we can change it up in those conditions because it was a day game today and I knew the wicket would get a little drier and slower.I have practiced bowling the knuckle ball, but I am unable to do so because of a minor injury to one of my fingers. However, I am delivering with my back of the hand. I have to bowl the ball away from the batter during the second innings when there is a little dew. I can’t pitch it up too much at that point. I’m therefore making an effort to remain as far away from the batter as I can.
“I continue to speak with Ashu Pa [Nehra] away from the field. We frequently discuss bowling and the kind of balls I can throw to various hitters. In particular, how we might vary the length ball, Mohit added. He’s always insisting it shouldn’t be too brief. It need to be towards top and off.
With their eighth victory in as many games against Super Giants, Titans have a three-point advantage over Chennai Super Kings at the top of the standings.
