Yash Dayal’s unfortunate final over in Gujarat’s previous match against the Kolkata Knight Riders prompted the Gujarat Titans to remove the 25-year-old and replace him with Indian pacer Mohit Sharma. This decision was strongly supported by Dayal’s unfortunate final over in Gujarat’s previous match against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
On Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali, the 18th match of the 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL) featured a fiery match between the defending champion Gujarat Titans and the Shikhar Dhawan-led Punjab Kings.
Nonetheless, Mohit Sharma made the most of the opportunity, as he claimed two wickets in four overs against the Punjab Kings while conceding only 18 runs. He came forward after the first inning to reflect on his spell and how wonderful it felt to return to the IPL.
“There was some trepidation. There was excitement upon returning after such a lengthy absence. I have been participating in the domestic circuit and gaining game experience. I played last year after my surgery, after a lengthy absence, and few people were aware of this. I wasn’t doing much else. So when Ashu bhai called for a net bowler, I knew I had to accept,” Mohit Sharma explained to broadcasters following the first inning.
“I figured that remaining at home was pointless, so I decided to come play competitive cricket. It is all about what everyone thinks. Being a net bowler is not a negative trait. You gain a great deal of experience from interacting with other users. In my case, the team has created an environment that has been so enjoyable for everyone. Not just me, but also the other net bowlers from last year and this year as well. It’s as if we’re a part of the squad, which is fantastic for us,” he added.
The middle order of Punjab propelled the team to a respectable total.
Shikhar Dhawan and Prabhsimran Singh, the top-order batsmen for the Punjab Kings, were sent back to the pavilion quite early in the first innings as the team batted first. Then, Matthew Short concluded the proceedings with Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who had a subpar batting performance. While Short scored 36 runs in 24 deliveries, Rajapaksa was only able to score 20 runs in 26 deliveries.
Jitesh Sharma’s nearly run-per-ball 23-ball, 25-run innings hampered Punjab’s run rate once more. The same was true for Sam Curran, who scored 22 runs at a rate of one run per delivery before Mohit Sharma dismissed him.
India
