National Sports Update
Players in the team of Gujarat Titans won the Indian Premier League champions on Sunday in Ahmedabad, defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets. Rajasthan, who chose to bat first, really got going and finished with a score of 130-9, with Jos Buttler, the season’s best scorer, leading the way with a modest 39. With the ball, Gujarat captain Hardik Pandya set an example. Pandya was also impressive with the bat, scoring 34 runs and forming a 63-run partnership with Shubman Gill to help Gujarat recover from a sluggish start in their chase. Gujarat’s triumph was sealed with a 6 and 11 balls to spare as opener Gill remained undefeated on 45. Shubman Gill has devised a new forceful gesture to signify the end of a magnificent performance, replacing the mic-drop moment. He was swarmed by his overjoyed teammates minutes after securing the championship with a six and letting out a Tarzan-like victory shout. He removed his helmet and tossed it away, almost crushed by the pleasure around him. It was a declaration that the game was finished, that the match mask had to be pulled off, and that it was time to party. Gill didn’t require protection when he was with his friends and in the warm embrace of the support crew.
He must’ve been feeling pressure on the inside, with a few butterflies in his tummy. Working with a team into its first year of IPL existence, on his own turf, in front of 100,000 supporters, necessitates a high level of character. Hardik Pandya exuded it, flashing a nonchalant smile and waxing philosophical during the throw. ‘Keep calm,’ as his idol MS Dhoni says, has been Hardik’s credo throughout the season. He had just a few days previously expressed his appreciation to the former India captain. Mahi bhai, he confesses, has had a significant impact on his life. He considers him to be a dear brother, a dear friend, and family. Yashasvi Jaiswal is a pretty good bet to answer the age-old cricket question, “What’s the difference between a hook and a pull?” His response could be that he excels at the former but not so much at the latter. Mohammad Shami had him bowled an over and a half, but he had slipped through with a few rasping blows. Dayal then bounced one that wasn’t quite as high, perhaps below the breast, and he needed to tug to get another boundary this time. Jaiswal attempted a pull, but made contact with the bat’s top half and was unable to clear deep square-leg. What does a hook and a pull have in common? A reprimand.
“Perhaps Kumar Sangakkara saw what was coming. On Friday night, after Rajasthan Royals steamrolled RCB, he addressed the team.
“We are at a real nice high. The key is to come down now. It’s not going to be easy. We have a short turn around time. We got to appreciate what we did today but now our job is to be at our peak again with bat and ball in a day and half. We can’t recreate today on Sunday. Today is done. Be ready for things that might not go our way, things that we don’t expect, be ready to change with what’s happening on the day.”
Wridhimann Saha was bowled a peach by Prasidh Krishna, a late-swerving in-swinger that brings back fond memories of Javagal Srinath, who was similarly tall and reedy at the outset of his career. When he decided to bowl all around stumps to Matthew Wade the very next over, he bowled a horrible wide. After that, the Australian smacked him for a six. After that, he served one that asked Hardik Pandya to be glued through the covers. He rushed Gill into a cut that wasn’t there two balls later, but the edge soared past Samson.
In the meantime, it’s time for end-of-season awards
With 863 runs secured this season, Jos Buttler got the orange cap, while Yuzvendra Chahal secured the purple cap with 27 wickets, a compensation after the heartbreaking loss last night.
Umran Malik of the Sunrisers Hyderabad was named Emerging Player of the Season, while Dinesh Karthik was named Super Striker of the Season.
International Sports Update
Sergio Perez was denied a chance to compete for the win in Spain due to team orders that left the Mexican star perplexed.
With Red Bull’s unfortunate choice in the rearview mirror, Perez moved on to the Monaco Grand Prix, confident that he would be able to battle for wins this season. After that, he won his first Formula One race of the season.
Perez bounced back from Red Bull team directives a week ago to win the rain-soaked Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday.
Perez’s third career victory came after Ferrari made a controversial strategy choice that lost pole-sitter Charles Leclerc a win on his home track.
