Gujarat Titans survive final-over scare to beat Punjab Kings by four wickets in IPL thriller

Key facts

• Gujarat Titans beat Punjab Kings by 4 wickets with 1 ball to spare at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on May 3.
• Sai Sudharsan scored 57 off 41 balls; Washington Sundar hit an unbeaten 40 off 23 balls.
• Suryansh Shedge made 57 off 29 balls, his first IPL half-century, after PBKS were 47/5.
• Jason Holder took 4/24, the best figures of his IPL career; Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada took 2 wickets each.
• PBKS posted 163/9; GT chased 167/6 in 19.5 overs.
• Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bowl first.
• Nishant Sindhu made his IPL debut for GT; PBKS brought in Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak.

A low-scoring classic unfolds in Ahmedabad

In an Indian Premier League season dominated by high scores, the 45th match at the Narendra Modi Stadium delivered an old-school thriller. Gujarat Titans held their nerve to chase down 164 with one ball in hand, defeating Punjab Kings by four wickets on Sunday evening. The contest swung repeatedly. GT's pacers reduced PBKS to 47 for five inside nine overs, only for Suryansh Shedge to launch a counterattack that dragged his team to a competitive total. In reply, GT's chase seemed controlled until a late collapse turned the final overs into a gripping scramble.

Punjab's top order crumbles under pace barrage

Mohammed Siraj struck twice in the first over, removing Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya to set the tone. Kagiso Rabada then dismissed Cooper Connolly and Shreyas Iyer, leaving Punjab reeling at 47 for five. Jason Holder, who finished with career-best figures of four for 24, cleaned up the middle order. At that stage, even 140 appeared distant. The pitch demanded patience and precision; hard lengths held value, and pace-off deliveries gripped just enough to trouble batters.

Shedge and Stoinis engineer a remarkable recovery

Suryansh Shedge, playing his first full IPL season, produced a 29-ball 57 that included six fours and three sixes. He added 79 runs with Marcus Stoinis, who made a measured 40 off 31 balls. Marco Jansen chipped in with 20 off 11 balls in the death overs, lifting Punjab to 163 for nine. Shedge's innings was his maiden IPL half-century and transformed a potential rout into a defendable total.

Sudharsan anchors GT's chase with calm authority

GT lost captain Shubman Gill early, but Sai Sudharsan played the anchor's role to near perfection. His 57 off 41 balls gave the pursuit shape, rotating the strike and absorbing pressure through the middle overs. Jos Buttler contributed a steadying partnership before falling, and Washington Sundar arrived at a critical juncture. Sundar's unbeaten 40 off 23 balls, featuring four boundaries and two sixes, proved decisive as GT needed 17 off the final two overs.

Final-over drama as Punjab nearly snatch victory

When Rahul Tewatia departed with 11 required from six balls, the equation tightened. Sundar held his nerve, scoring the winning runs with a single off the penultimate delivery. Arshdeep Singh was the pick of PBKS bowlers with two for 24, while Vijaykumar Vyshak also took two wickets. But GT's depth and Sundar's composure saw them over the line.

Team changes and debutants shape the contest

GT dropped misfiring Shahrukh Khan and handed a debut to Nishant Sindhu, the 2022 U19 World Cup-winning all-rounder. Punjab made two changes, bringing back Xavier Bartlett and Vijaykumar Vyshak as they reverted to the combination that took them to the 2025 final. The result leaves PBKS with a second consecutive defeat, but the fight shown by Shedge and Stoinis offered Shreyas Iyer's side something to build on.

A thriller that underscores IPL's enduring unpredictability

This match was a reminder that even modest totals can produce high drama when bowlers exploit helpful conditions and batters show resilience. GT's middle-order wobbles will concern Shubman Gill, but the victory keeps them in contention. For Punjab, the lesson is that early collapses, no matter how deep, can be overcome. Shedge's emergence as a genuine power-hitter adds a new dimension to their lineup.

The bottom line

• GT's pace trio of Siraj, Rabada, and Holder dismantled PBKS's top order, but Shedge's counterattack nearly turned the game.
• Sudharsan's anchoring and Sundar's finishing were crucial; GT's middle order remains an area for improvement.
• PBKS's second straight loss was offset by Shedge's maiden IPL fifty and a late fight that fell just short.
• The Ahmedabad pitch rewarded disciplined bowling and measured batting, offering a contrast to high-scoring games elsewhere.
• Nishant Sindhu's debut and PBKS's tactical changes highlighted the strategic depth of both squads.