Follow UsGujarat Titans suffered a 15-run defeat against Chennai Super Kings in a closely fought first Qualifier at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday, May 23.
After putting the Super Kings into bat, the defending champions were unable to create early inroads as Ruturaj Gaikwad and Devon Conway forged an 87-run stand for the opening wicket to power the home team to 172 runs in the first innings.
In reply, the Titans lost wickets at regular intervals, with Shubman Gill playing a lone hand of a 38-ball 42. "I think we could have chased better and got the game much closer," said Vijay Shankar in the post-match press conference.
"Even the over that I got out, I felt I could have calculated a little better. I could have targeted it in a better way. So it was a great learning for us. I think we have won a lot of games chasing, and this is a one-off game that we had," he added.
The 32-year-old also credited Chennai's spinners for their line and length in the middle overs that pretty much choked the Titans in the run chase. "I think CSK bowled pretty well in the middle overs. The middle overs are very important for any team that is chasing."
"We lost wickets, and we lost by 15 runs. If two batters were batting, things would have been different. It is just about losing wickets at the wrong time. Maybe a partnership of 20 or 30 runs in the middle could have got us closer in the game."
The right-handed batter walked in at number six for the reigning champions in this clash, which is rather unusual for him, but he insisted the team has been flexible with the batting order according to the conditions.
"Actually, if you see overall in this season, all the batters have played in different positions. So it is not just this game. I think that was the strength of our batting unit as well. Whoever went in different situations, we were able to adapt to it and get runs for the team."
"When you lose a wicket and when you lose a game, things will look odd that we have changed a lot and all. But we have been playing like this overall right from game one until now. I think we have shuffled our batting according to the conditions and situations, and we have done well."
Gujarat Titans will now face the winner of the Eliminator between Mumbai Indians and Lucknow Super Giants on Friday, May 26, in the second Qualifier at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
"I think till now, we have been playing a lot of home and away games. It is about going there and adapting to our conditions as quickly as we can. And overall, we've been playing wonderful cricket. So one game won't change much. So it is just about regrouping and coming out and giving our best for the team," he concluded.