The defending champions Gujarat Titans (GT) rode on their debutant Mohit Sharma's exceptional performance to get the better of Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali on Thursday (April 13).
Mohit was adjudged the Player of the Match for his outstanding spell of 2/18 in his IPL comeback. Mohit troubled PBKS batter as the Shikhar Dhawan-led side posted a moderate total of 153/8. In reply GT chased down the target with a ball to spare.
Mohit last featured in IPL 2023 and with his stunning comeback in GT's winning cause he proved his mettle yet again. The 34-year-old, who won the Purple Cap in IPL 2014, was was bought by GT in the mini-auction for the 2023 IPL for his base price Rs 50 lakh. However he fetched a whopping Rs 6.5 crore in IPL 2016.
Mohit, who was delighted with his match-winning show for Hardik's brigade, spoke his heart out in a conversation with his teammate Mohammed Shami in a video posted by IPL. The emotional Mohit remembered his father and dedicated his Player of the Match award to him.
"This was an emotional moment for me when Ashu bhai (Ashish Nehra) told me that I am playing. I was going to play a game after three years and amidst that, I lost my father due to cancer. You want your close ones to be around you when you make comebacks, and so I am dedicating this to my late father," Mohit said.
Mohit also said that the clarity in role definition by the GT team management helped him hit the floor after breaking sweat in the camp last year as a net bowler which played an instrumental role in his comeback.
"It was pretty clear that I was going to bowl after 10th over. The team management had given me clear instructions and the fact that you and me have played together for so long also helped. You will get hit for runs, but the clarity in thought process was important and that I had as you had told me how the pitch is playing," Mohit said.
"I didn't want to be too predictable in my bowling. Hardik was telling me after every 2-3 balls to try a slower bouncer. But I thought it's important to hit the hard lengths as the length ball was getting difficult to hit," Mohit concluded.
GT will next face former champions Rajasthan Royals (RR) on April 16 in Ahmedabad.
ALSO READ:
Brendon McCullum in soup over involvement with betting company, ECB to probe allegations
