In a tense clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on May 22, Gujarat Titans’ left-arm pacer Arshad Khan faced an unfortunate moment twice—during his opening over against Lucknow Super Giants. The match may have lost some of its playoff tension for Lucknow, but for Gujarat, perched at the top of the table, every point remains vital.
Arshad’s troubles began immediately. Handed the new ball to open proceedings against LSG openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh, he slipped on the very first delivery of the second over. As he planted his back foot during the delivery stride, he lost balance, crashing to the ground awkwardly on his left knee and shoulder. The Gujarat Titans physio was quick to rush in, but Arshad showed resilience, dusting himself off and finishing the over.
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However, just a few deliveries later, on the fifth ball of the same over, the pacer slipped again—this time even harder—hitting his left shoulder as he tumbled on the turf. Once more, medical attention was required, and concerns were raised about the condition of the pitch. In response, the ground staff applied a substantial amount of sawdust to the affected landing area, which seemed to resolve the issue for the remainder of the match.
Arshad Khan slips twice, leaves the field. Hope it’s not serious.
Mitchell Marsh: SIX on the first ball!
Markram batting with great intent.#LSGvsGT #GTvsLSG pic.twitter.com/EJLSb1ksFR
— Reenu yadav (@reenu26451) May 22, 2025
Arshad Khan slips twice in an over, but he’s back on his feet and ready to bowl after a quick physio check.
📸: Jio Hotstar pic.twitter.com/IfPlw0MdQX
— Hem Choudhary (@HemChoudhary877) May 22, 2025
Despite the slips, Gujarat Titans remained focused. With their place in the playoffs secured, a win against Lucknow would push them closer to a top-two finish, an invaluable advantage, offering a second shot at the final.
GT captain Shubman Gill, who won the toss, chose to bowl first, keeping faith in the same XI. “We want momentum heading into the qualifiers. These two games are equally important,” he said. He praised the team’s unity and strategic flexibility, emphasizing how they adapt without overcomplicating plans.
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Meanwhile, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, leading a side already knocked out of playoff contention, admitted they too would have preferred to chase. “There’s a challenge when you’re already eliminated, but we take pride in our cricket,” said Pant. “We’re testing out combinations and preparing for next season.”
Lucknow introduced Akash Deep and made a few more tactical changes as they sought a morale-boosting performance, even as Gujarat chased a finish at the very top of the points table.
