DC left the Gt and probably neutrals as well with their mouths hanging as they beat the defending champions by five runs by defending a measly target of 131 runs in IPL 2023. A feature of GT’s failed chase was Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 53-ball 59. He hit seven fours and no sixes in his innings as he failed to get going at his usual pace.

Pandya shouldered responsibility for the defeat, told broadcasters after the game –

“I tried my best but could not capitalise. It boils down to me. Obviously, we would have taken 129 (131-run target) on any given day. (We) just lost a couple of wickets and at the end, Rahul (Tewatia) got us back in the game.”

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‘I tried my best but could not capitalise’, Hardik Pandya after GT loss

Pandya said that the pitch wasn’t too difficult to bat on and it was the pressure of losing wickets that hurt them. GT had lost four wickets in the first seven overs and scored just 32 runs between the seventh and 17th overs.

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Pandya added –

“I don’t think the [track] played much role. It was a tad slower than what we are used to here. But they bowled really well. We lost a couple of early wickets and then we had to take some time. We could not get the rhythm in the middle. Rahul brought us back into the game. Otherwise, they were quite ahead.”