Gill, Saha help Gujarat win IPL battle of brothers
Monday, 8 May 2023
AHMEDABAD, India, May 07 (AFP): Hardik Pandya got the better of his big brother Krunal on Sunday as holders Gujarat Titans thrashed Lucknow Super Giants by 56 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Sunday.
In the first ever IPL match with two teams captained by brothers, Lucknow's Krunal won the toss and elected to field at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad.
The brothers joked and hugged at the start but things turned serious when a destructive opening stand of 142 between Wriddhiman Saha (81) and Shubman Gill (94 not out) powered Gujarat to their highest ever IPL total of 227-2.
Lucknow put up a spirited reply with Kyle Mayers (48) and Quinton de Kock (70) leading the charge but they ended on 171-7 to allow Gujarat to consolidate their top spot in the 10-team table.
Saha, a diminutive wicketkeeper-batsman, set up Gujarat's domination with sixes and fours to reach his fifty in just 20 balls before he fell to Avesh Khan.
Hardik, 29, and Gill extended the batting onslaught but the younger Pandya departed after Krunal, 32, took his catch. He made 25 off 15 balls.