NEW DELHI: Batting star Shubman Gill overshadowed Virat Kohli’s record-breaking century as the Gujarat Titans defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore in a high-scoring thriller on Sunday in their final league match at Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Shubman sizzled with an unbeaten 104 off 52 balls, also his second consecutive IPL century, laced with five fours and eight sixes at a strike rate of 200, to dash RCB’s hopes of making the playoffs.
IPL: RCB campaign ends after loss to GT, MI passes
The result means that RCB crashed IPL 2023with five-time champions Mumbai Indians taking the last remaining spot.
Gujarat Titans will face Chennai Super Kings in Qualifier 1 on Tuesday in Chennai.
MI will face Lucknow Super Giants in Eliminator on 24th May at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
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IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans eliminate Royal Challengers Bangalore
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Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill hit a superb century to edge past Virat Kohli’s second run as Royal Challengers Bangalore were knocked out of the IPL on Sunday.
Gill followed up with his century against Sunrisers Hyderabad with unbeaten 104 from 52 balls as Gujarat reached 198/4 off five balls to go for a six-wicket win.
Kohli with 101 not out – his record seventh century in the IPL – anchored the RCB at 197/5, but Gill fueled Gujarat’s chase by hitting eight sixes and five fours.
After the start was delayed for nearly an hour by rain, Kohli and captain Faf du Plessis combined in an early stand of 67 runs off 43 balls.
But Gujarat spinner Noor Ahmad (2/39) and Rashid Khan (1/24) reduced runs in the middle overs as Kohli lifted his half-century off 35 balls.
Kohli boosted the score in death overs with his superb drives either side of the wicket and became the first batsman in IPL history to score seven centuries.
Kohli took Mohit Sharma (0/54) long in the final for a single to re-boost his hundreds of balls only to see Gill’s brilliance take away victory from his side.
Gill has defied the data by favoring teams batting first and winning in Bangalore in the recent past with his superb stroke play.
Gill and Vijay Shankar (53) put on a winning stand of 123 runs for the second wicket.
Gill re-boosted to win and also completed his second consecutive century with a straight six off Wayne Parnell in the final over.
Former cricketers have lauded Shubman for his winning effort.
Batting legend Sachin Tendulkar concocted a cheeky post after five-time Indian champions Mumbai entered the play-offs.
