Defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) kept their title defence hopes alive as the last season debutants became the first team to book a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023 Playoffs.
GT, who finished on top of the points table, lost second-placed team and four-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the first qualifier of the ongoing season on Tuesday (May 23) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The Hardik Pandya-led side have made a great start to their journey in the world's biggest T20 league, having reached the knockout stage or playoffs in both their attempts so far.
Like the last season, GT finished on top of the table even this season to progress to the next round. They will hope the season ends in similar fashion as well. In IPL 2022, the debutants GT got past Rajasthan Royals twice to clinch the title.
The skipper Hardik has been their best performer in the playoff stages alongside South African batter David Miller, who dominated with the bat during last season's playoffs.
GT also have players with top performances in previous editions when playing for their old franchises in the form of Wriddhiman Saha, who has scored a hundred in one of the finals.
In 2023, the reigning champions carried on from where they left last season, registering 9 wins in 13 matches for 18 points with one match left to play in the league stage. The team has performed collectively with every player stepping up.
In IPL 2023 Qualifier 1, GT lost to CSK. But they defeated Eliminator winner Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 2 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday (May 26) to book a second successive final. Now, let's take a look at GT's playoff record, stats and results.
Matches: 4
Won: 3
Lost: 1
Batting First Won: 1
Chasing Won: 2
Highest Total: 233
Lowest Total: 157
Highest Scorer: Shubman Gill - 129 off 60 balls vs MI in 2023 Qualifier 2
Most Runs: Shubman Gill - 251 runs in 4 innings
Most Sixes: Shubman Gill - 13 sixes
Most Fours: Shubman Gill - 19 fours
Best Bowling Figures: Mohit Sharma - 5 for 10 in 2.2 overs vs MI in 2022 Qualifier 2
Most Wickets: Mohit Sharma - 7 wickets
Year | Round | Match | Venue | Result |
2022 | Qualifier 1 | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | GT won by 7 wickets |
2022 | Final | Gujarat Titans vs Rajasthan Royals | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | GT won by 7 wickets |
2023 | Qualifier 1 | Gujarat Titans vs Chennai Super Kings | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | CSK won by 15 runs |
2023 | Qualifier 2 | Gujarat Titans vs Mumbai Indians | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad | GT won by 62 runs |