A Thrilling Finish Seals Gujarat Titans’ Victory
Gujarat Titans showcased incredible composure in a nail-biting finish to secure a four-wicket win over Punjab Kings, chasing down a 164-run target with just one ball remaining in a thrilling IPL 2026 encounter at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The match was a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams displaying moments of brilliance and resilience.
Washington Sundar played a pivotal role in the victory, finishing unbeaten on 40 off 23 balls. With 11 runs needed off the final over, Sundar remained calm and executed a calculated scoop for six off Marcus Stoinis, sealing the win in dramatic fashion.
A Strong Start from Gujarat Titans
The chase began with a strong start for the Titans, despite losing their captain Shubman Gill early to Arshdeep Singh. Sai Sudharsan provided stability with a composed 57 off 41 deliveries, forming a crucial 50-run partnership with Jos Buttler, who contributed 26. This partnership kept the Titans on track through the powerplay and into the middle overs.
However, Punjab Kings fought back through Vijaykumar Vyshak and Marcus Stoinis, taking key wickets regularly. Buttler’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse, and when Sudharsan fell after reaching his half-century, the pressure shifted firmly onto the Titans. At 128/4 after 16 overs, the equation was still within reach but far from comfortable.
Washington Sundar Steers the Chase
Washington Sundar then took control of the innings, mixing calculated aggression with smart strike rotation. He found timely boundaries, including two fortunate fours off Marco Jansen, ensuring the required rate never spiraled out of control. The dismissal of Rahul Tewatia and Jason Holder in the death overs kept Punjab Kings in the hunt, but Sundar found support in Arshad Khan, who contributed an unbeaten 8.
Punjab Kings’ bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh (2/24) and Vyshak (2/31), maintained tight lines and variations, making Gujarat work hard for every run. Their disciplined lengths nearly swung the game, especially in the closing overs, where the match went down to the wire.
A Disciplined Bowling Performance
Earlier in the game, Gujarat delivered a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Punjab Kings to 163/9. Jason Holder starred with a superb 4/24, while Mohammed Siraj set the tone early with a fiery opening spell.
After being put in to bat, Punjab suffered an early collapse as Siraj dismissed Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly in the first over. Kagiso Rabada added to the pressure by removing Prabhsimran Singh, leaving Punjab struggling at 35/3 in the powerplay. Holder then struck crucial blows, dismissing Nehal Wadhera and captain Shreyas Iyer to reduce Punjab to 47/5.
A spirited recovery followed through Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis, who stitched together a vital 79-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Shedge led the counterattack with a blistering 57 off 29 balls, including a 27-run over off Manav Suthar, while Stoinis contributed a steady 40.
Just as Punjab looked set for a strong finish, Gujarat hit back at the death. Rabada broke the stand by removing Shedge, and Holder returned to dismiss Stoinis and pick up another wicket in the same over. Despite a quick cameo from Marco Jansen, Punjab lost wickets regularly and fell short of a bigger total, settling for 163/9.
Match Summary
Brief scores:
Punjab Kings 163/9 in 20 overs (Suryansh Shedge 57, Marcus Stoinis 40; Jason Holder 4-24, Kagiso Rabada 2-22, Mohammed Siraj 2-28)
lost to
Gujarat Titans 167/6 in 19.5 overs (Sai Sudharsan 57, Washington Sundar 40 not out; Arshdeep Singh 2-24, Vijaykumar Vyshak 2-31)
by four wickets.
