IPL action resumes with Gujarat, Punjab and Bengaluru into playoffs / Photo: Sajjad HUSSAIN - AFP
IPL action resumes with Gujarat, Punjab and Bengaluru into playoffs
Azmatullah Omarzai's all-round show and an unbeaten century by Sai Sudharsan marked the return of Indian Premier League action on Sunday with victories for Punjab Kings and Gujarat Titans.
Gujarat rode unbeaten knocks from Sudharsan (108) and skipper Shubman Gill (93) to hammer Delhi Capitals by 10 wickets in the day's second match to book their play-off spot.
The result also ensured play-off places for Punjab Kings, who won the first match of the day, and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Punjab beat Rajasthan Royals by 10 runs in the first completed match since the IPL's resumption after Saturday's scheduled restart ended in a washout.
The T20 tournament was paused last week because of a deadly conflict between India and Pakistan but officials decided to resume the competition after a ceasefire.
On a batting-friendly pitch at Delhi's Feroz Shah Kotla ground, impact substitute Sudharsan, who struck his second IPL century, and Gill helped Gujarat chase down 200 with one over to spare.
"Feels amazing, I have talked about this couple of times, when I'm batting, I want to play and think as a batsman, not as a captain," said Gill.
"Last year was a learning (experience) for me as I was captain for the first time, the back end of last season I learnt that."
- Gill the leader -
Gill, 25, is the frontrunner to lead India in five-day cricket after the recent Test retirements of skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
Gujarat, who won the IPL in their debut season in 2022, reclaimed first place in the 10-team table.
Delhi, five-time champions Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants are the three teams remaining in the hunt for one remaining play-off spot.
The huge partnership between Gill and Sudharsan trumped KL Rahul's unbeaten 112 that steered the home team to 199-3.
Sudharsan came out attacking in response as he raced to 25 off nine balls and reached his fifty with a boundary.
Gill soon changed gears as he took on Sri Lanka's Dushmantha Chameera in a 19-run 13th over, with Sudharsan picking up the pace as well and completing his hundred before hitting the winning six.
Sudharsan is the leading batsman this season with 617 runs in 12 matches, with Gill second on 601.
- 'In high spirits' -
Earlier Rahul, who was promoted to open the innings, struck 14 fours and four sixes en route to his fifth career IPL ton.
In Sunday's opening match in Jaipur, Punjab posted 219-5 after they elected to bat first.
Nehal Wadhera top-scored with 70 off 37 balls before Shashank Singh made the team finish strong with his unbeaten 59.
Omarzai boosted the total with his unbeaten nine-ball 21 before he returned with two key wickets to restrict Rajasthan to 209-7.
Impact substitute Harpreet Brar stood out with figures of 3-22 with his left-arm spin and South African left-arm quick Marco Jansen took two wickets in the final over when Rajasthan needed 22 for a win.
"Absolutely brilliant approach and attitude coming in after the break," Punjab skipper Shreyas Iyer said.
"The boys were in high spirits and we also needed a rest, going forward in the tournament, it was the right time we came in together and showed the kind of mindset to win irrespective of the situation."
Explosive opening knocks by Yashasvi Jaiswal and 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi came in vain after the two left-handers fired Rajasthan to 89-1 in the first six overs.
Jaiswal hit a 25-ball 50 and Suryavanshi made 40 off 15 balls.
Punjab were playing Delhi in Dharamsala when the match was halted midway on May 8 due to an apparent floodlight failure and the next day the IPL was suspended.
Since the pause in the IPL, the tournament has been rescheduled with the final now set to take place on June 3.
H.Dierckx--JdB
