IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans vs Delhi Capitals, Match 44 - Talking Points and Who Said What?

The 44th game of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 featured a low-scoring encounter between the David Warner-led Delhi Capitals and the defending champions Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, May 2.

Despite posting just 130 runs on the board, Delhi Capitals managed to defend the total against the defending champions. As Gujarat came in to chase the target, only skipper Hardik Pandya managed to score big and bring his side very close to victory. However, his knock eventually went in vain, as Delhi won the game by five runs.

Here are the Talking Points from the GT vs DC clash-

Aman Hakim Khan’s resilience

Delhi Capitals have had a horrid run in the IPL 2023. Placed in last place in the IPL points table, the side looked to be in trouble once again in the first innings against Gujarat. As none of the top and middle-order batters amounted to much, all-rounder Aman Hakim Khan rose to the occasion and played a brilliant knock. The 26-year-old scored 51 runs in 44 deliveries and propelled his side to a total of 130 runs.

Mohammed Shami’s class

Indian pacer Mohammed Shami was fabulous for Gujarat Titans in the first innings against Delhi. Bowling four overs, Shami dismantled the opposition’s batting order. The veteran took four wickets and conceded just 11 runs in his spell. He dismissed the likes of Phil Salt, Priyam Garg, Rilee Rossouw, and Manish Pandey and was crucial in limiting Delhi to a low total.

Hardik Pandya’s fightback

Coming in to chase the target of 131 runs, Gujarat got off to a horrid start as they lost Wriddhiman Saha and in-form Shubman Gill quite early into the run chase. However, skipper Hardik Pandya came to the front and fought back. Playing an unbeaten knock of 59* runs in 53 balls, the star Indian all-rounder stood at the crease until the end, and despite his knock being in vain, Pandya brought his side very close to victory.

Losing skipper Hardik Pandya said:

We would have taken 129 on any given day. Just lost a couple of wickets and in the end, Rahul got us back in the game. I tried my best in the end but it was not to be. ( On the discussion with Abhinav Manohar) We were hoping to get couple of big overs in the middle but we couldn’t get rhythm. It was new for Abhinav as well and it boils down o how I could not finish the game. Full marks to the bowlers and full ownership I couldn’t finish it. Wicket was good enough, it was wicket pressure. They bowled really well, 10 overs for 80 we would have taken. In the end, Rahul got us in the game, they were quite ahead. We lost this game, because I couldn’t get my rhythm and we lost two wickets at the start. (On Mohammed Shami’s brilliant bowling) I feel sorry for him, if you bowl like that, and restrict them to 129 but the batters disappointed. I don’t think the wicket did a lot but full credit to him. It is still lots of games left, we will take all learning from this game and move on. All these things keep happening, that’s the beauty of IPL. We are still on top of the table but we still need to play good cricket.

Winning skipper David Warner said:

Our bowlers were amazing. Our batters struggled but credit to the way Shami bowled. We just find ways to lose wickets in clumps, I don't know what's happening with our batting. We tried playing postively today. We wanted to come out and swing the ball, get early wickets. Khaleel did well after coming back from injury, and Ishant is forever getting younger. I was nervous when Tewatia was going off, he has a reputation for that kind of stuff. Anrich is our most consistent death bowler, but couldn't get it right today. But Ishant was so clear with what he wanted to execute for us.

Player of the Match Mohammed Shami said:

I just try to stick to my plans. Stick to the areas, the line and length that we discussed. This wasn't a score that was above par, there was not too much swing. I felt we should have chased this. The mistake was losing wickets at regular intervals, we needed partnerships and they came too late for us. However, plenty of games left. Such things happen