GT beat LSG in a close encounter
In one of the most intense matches of the season, the Gujarat Titans managed to snatch a game that was seemingly in the hands of Lucknow Super Giants. Despite needing only 31 runs to win from 36 balls with nine wickets in hand and a well-set KL Rahul in the middle, the Titans turned the tables with the combined efforts of Noor Ahmad, Mohit Sharma, and Mohammed Shami.
Noor Ahmad took two wickets for one run over nine balls, putting pressure back on Lucknow Super Giants as the equation reached 23 off 18. Mohit then bowled a series of accurate yorkers and slower balls, allowing for only six singles. Shami followed with a tight 19th over, conceding only five runs. With 12 needed off six, Mohit secured the win for the Gujarat Titans with the wickets of Rahul and Marcus Stoinis.
In the final three balls, Ayush Badoni and Deepak Hooda were run out while attempting risky second runs, and a dot ball sealed the win for the Gujarat Titans. With this victory, Gujarat Titans have eight points and are on par with the three teams above them on the IPL points table. Additionally, they have extended their unbeaten record against the Lucknow Super Giants to 3-0, who have continued to be in the 2nd spot despite the defeat.
Punjab thrash Mumbai at their home
Punjab Kings defeated Mumbai Indians by 13 runs in an intense game at the Wankhede Stadium, securing their fourth win of the season. After winning the toss, Mumbai Indians chose to bowl first, and Punjab Kings’ innings was struggling until the 14th over, with a score of 105 for 4. However, in the next six overs, they scored 109 runs, with Harpreet Singh Bhatia scoring 41 off 28, Sam Curran scoring 55 off 29, and Jitesh Sharma scoring 25 off just seven. This lifted the Punjab Kings to a formidable 214 for 8.
In response, Mumbai Indians were always in the game, with Rohit Sharma scoring 44 off 27 balls and Cameron Green scoring 67 off 43 balls. Suryakumar Yadav’s blazing half-century threatened to snatch the game from Kings, but Arshdeep Singh rose to the occasion. He dismissed Suryakumar in the 18th over and conceded just two runs in the final over while breaking the middle stumps of Tilak Varma and Nehal Wadhera with back-to-back deliveries.
The win took Punjab Kings to fifth position with eight points from seven games, putting them in the same position as the top four teams, with only the net run rate separating them. Mumbai Indians, on the other hand, have slipped one position, down to the 7th spot.
Here’s the updated points table after MI vs PBKS Match 31:
| Rank | Teams | Matches | Won | Lost | No Results | Points | NRR |
| 1. | Rajasthan Royals | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | +1.043 |
| 2. | Lucknow Super Giants | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | +0.547 |
| 3. | Chennai Super Kings | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | +0.355 |
| 4. | Gujarat Titans | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 8 | +0.212 |
| 5. | Punjab Kings | 7 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 8 | -0.162 |
| 6. | Royal Challengers Bangalore | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -0.068 |
| 7. | Mumbai Indians | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | -0.254 |
| 8. | Kolkata Knight Riders | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | +0.214 |
| 9. | Sunrisers Hyderabad | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | -0.794 |
| 10. | Delhi Capitals | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | -1.183 |
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