TATA IPL 2024: Yash Thakur Shines as Lucknow Triumphs Over Gujarat by 33 Runs

Lucknow Super Giants secured a victory against Gujarat Titans by 33 runs in Match 21 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) at Ekana Cricket Stadium, courtesy of Yash Thakur's five-wicket haul and Krunal Pandya's three-wicket contribution. In pursuit of 164 runs, Lucknow had a solid start, marked by Sai Sudarshan's boundary hits off Naveen-ul-Haq in the second over. However, Mayank Yadav's departure due to a side strain after completing his first over added a twist to the match.

Lucknow Super Giants faced challenges as Sai Sudarshan added two more boundaries to his tally, with drives down the ground and whips through midwicket, while Shubman Gill initiated his innings with a ramp shot wide of deep third. However, the team encountered a setback as Mayank, with his pace barely touching 140kph in the first over, swiftly exited the field after completing his initial over.

When it seemed like this chase would be simple, Yash Thakur fires one through Gill and into the timber. Full, straight, and cross-seam, it continued to skid as the captain of the Titans tried to flick across the line and got out at 19. Gill's team was in a good position at 54 for 1 at the conclusion of the powerplay. M Siddharth struggled to bowl as he crossed the bowling line three times in his second and fifth over of the inning but managed to give only 12 runs. Sudarshan appeared to be in excellent form as he scored 29 from 18 after the end of the seventh over.

Lucknow Super Giants remained competitive in the match, but Ravi Bishnoi's exceptional return catch resulted in the dismissal of Gujarat Titans' impact substitute Kane Williamson, who managed just one run off four deliveries before chipping the ball back to the bowler. Bishnoi's agile leap to his right and a one-armed grab saw him just about hold on as he collided with the ground. Williamson, who was expected to spearhead a modest chase on a challenging pitch, departed cheaply.

This game took a radical turn as Sai Sudarshan and BS Sharath both holed out in Krunal Pandya's opening over. Wicketkeeper Sharath, who came in place of Wriddhiman Saha top-edged a sweep to a deep backward square. Bishnoi took another catch, a much simpler catch was on the deep square boundary to remove Sudarshan. Sudarshan departed after scoring 31 off 23 deliveries and was the highest scorer of his side. Darshan Nalkande hoicked the ball around the corner directly to short fine leg, Krunal took his third wicket in the last over of the spell. The asking rate for Titans increased to about 12 runs per over as Krunal ended with three for eleven.

With 72 runs needed from 36 balls, Lucknow Super Giants edged closer to sealing the match swiftly, propelled by the impressive bowling of Yash Thakur. Thakur, who had earlier dismissed Shubman Gill, returned for his second over and claimed the wickets of Rashid Khan and Vijay Shankar. Although Rahul Tewatia and Spencer Johnson contributed 24 runs in 17 deliveries for the ninth wicket, Thakur's final over of the spell secured him a five-wicket haul, conceding 30 runs in 3.5 overs and dismissing Tewatia and Noor Ahmad. This victory marked Lucknow's first win in five encounters against Gujarat Titans.