Washington Sundar's last-over six seals Gujarat Titans' four-wicket win over Punjab Kings

Key facts

• Gujarat Titans beat Punjab Kings by 4 wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 3.
• Punjab Kings scored 163/9 in 20 overs; Gujarat Titans reached 167/6 in 19.5 overs.
• Jason Holder took 4/24 for Gujarat Titans and was named Player of the Match.
• Suryansh Shedge scored 57 off 29 balls for Punjab Kings, his maiden IPL fifty.
• Washington Sundar scored an unbeaten 40 off 23 balls to guide Gujarat Titans home.
• Sai Sudharsan anchored the chase with 57 off 41 balls for Gujarat Titans.
• Mohammed Siraj took two wickets in the first over for Gujarat Titans.

A thriller in Ahmedabad

Gujarat Titans edged out Punjab Kings by four wickets in a gripping IPL 2026 encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 3. The match, which saw the Titans chase down 164 with one ball to spare, was a testament to the fine margins that define Twenty20 cricket. Washington Sundar's six off Marcus Stoinis in the final over sealed the win, handing Punjab their second consecutive defeat.

Punjab's early collapse and Shedge's rescue

Asked to bat first, Punjab Kings were reduced to 47 for 5 inside nine overs, thanks to a devastating opening burst from Mohammed Siraj, who struck twice in the first over, and sustained pressure from Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder. Suryansh Shedge then produced a counterattacking 57 off 29 balls, his maiden IPL fifty, to drag Punjab to 163 for 9. Marcus Stoinis and Marco Jansen provided late support, but the total felt below par on a surface that demanded method and patience.

Gujarat's chase: control and nerves

Gujarat Titans lost Shubman Gill early, but Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler steadied the innings with a solid partnership. Sudharsan's composed 57 off 41 balls gave the chase shape, but the middle order once again struggled to assert dominance. When Sudharsan departed, the equation became tense, with Punjab sensing an unlikely victory. Washington Sundar, however, kept his composure, rotating the strike and finding the boundary when needed.

The final over: Sundar's decisive six

With 13 runs needed off the last over bowled by Marcus Stoinis, the match hung in the balance. After a dot ball and a single, Sundar faced a full toss and smashed it over deep fine leg for six, sealing the win with a ball to spare. Earlier in the over, Arshad Khan had survived a run-out chance after a direct hit missed. Sundar later said the early boundary was crucial and that he relied on staying calm and backing his strengths.

Player reactions and team outlook

Gujarat captain Shubman Gill acknowledged that the team is peaking at the right time but stressed the need to close out chases more convincingly. He praised Washington Sundar for getting the job done. Punjab captain Shreyas Iyer said 163 was a good score on that pitch and credited his bowlers for fighting till the end, but admitted they fell short in execution. Jason Holder, who took 4/24, said the early wickets from Siraj and Rabada made his job easier.

Implications for the playoff race

The win was Gujarat Titans' third in a row, with two coming against the top two teams—Royal Challengers Bangalore and now Punjab Kings. Punjab, despite the defeat, remain at the top of the table. They next face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Wednesday, May 6, while Gujarat will travel to Jaipur to play Rajasthan Royals on Saturday, May 9. The result tightens the playoff race, with both teams showing resilience in contrasting phases of the game.

The bottom line

• Washington Sundar's unbeaten 40 off 23 balls, including the winning six, was the decisive innings in a tense chase.
• Jason Holder's 4/24 was the standout bowling performance, earning him Player of the Match.
• Suryansh Shedge's maiden IPL fifty rescued Punjab from 47/5 to a competitive 163/9.
• Gujarat Titans have now won three consecutive matches, beating two top-four teams.
• Punjab Kings remain top of the table despite back-to-back defeats, showing their overall strength.
• The match highlighted the importance of composure under pressure and the fine margins in T20 cricket.