Both the new franchises of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), and Gujarat Titans (GT) locked horns with each other on Monday. GT won the game by chasing down the target of 159 runs with five wickets in hand. GT won the toss and opted to bowl first. Mohammed Shami was fired up and he dismissed the top three of the opposition with his effective seam movement.

The team was poised on 29/4 at one stage but half-centuries from Deepak Hooda and IPL debutant Ayush Badoni helped them cross the 150-run mark. During the chase, LSG also lost a couple of early wickets but they recovered due to a partnership between Hardik Pandya and David Miller. However, the 16th over of the innings was the turning point of the game as Deepak Hooda conceded 22 runs in the over and the opposition gained momentum to win the match by five wickets.

Reflecting on the result, former Indian head coach, Ravi Shastri has opined that Deepak Hooda bowling in the back end of the innings was a tactical error from KL Rahul and Avesh Khan should have bowled that over.

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During a chat with ESPNCricinfo, Ravi Shastri said, “(Rahul) Tewatia’s timing to start hitting was very good — during (Deepak) Hooda’s over. He took 22 runs off him over. I feel the game changed there. It was a tactical error by Lucknow. Absolutely a tactical error. I think a fast bowler should have been used. Avesh Khan should have bowled that over. Two overs went for 39 runs and the game ended there.”

Hardik Pandya made an impressive debut as an IPL skipper, with a victory after staying away from the game due to injury for a long time. He bowled four overs conceding 37 runs and scored 33 runs from 28 balls with the bat. Shastri praised the all-rounder for his performance.

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Talking about Hardik, Ravi Shastri said, “I give full marks to Hardik. The whole country was watching. He bowled four overs, didn’t get a wicket, but bowling four overs makes a big difference. His game and his confidence will be doubled if he can bowl four overs in every game. He came to bat at No.4 when two early wickets fell. He took the responsibility himself and that’s a very good sign as a captain going forward for Gujarat.”