Washington Sundar launched a massive six off Marcus Stoinis to seal victory for Gujarat Titans in a nail-biting final-over encounter against Punjab Kings during their IPL 2026 clash on Sunday evening in Ahmedabad. Sundar remained unbeaten on 40 from 23 deliveries, striking five boundaries and one crucial six that decided the contest. Previously, Suryansh Shedge played a brilliant knock of 57 from 29 balls as PBKS fought back from early troubles to reach a respectable total of 163 for 9. After being asked to bat first, PBKS found themselves struggling at 47/5 by the ninth over, but Shedge stabilized the innings through a vital 79-run partnership spanning 44 balls with Marcus Stoinis (40). Yet after their dismissals, Punjab failed to maintain momentum during the final overs. Gujarat’s Jason Holder (4/24) emerged as the pick of the bowlers, while Kagiso Rabada (2/22) and Mohammed Siraj (2/28) each claimed a brace of wickets. During the run chase, Sai Sudharsan’s 57 from 41 balls kept Gujarat ahead, but his departure allowed PBKS to mount a comeback, creating tension for the chasing side. The contest reached its climax in the final over with GT requiring three runs from two deliveries when Sundar struck a decisive six to complete the victory. GT secures important win over table toppers Punjab Kings .
TOSS-
Gujarat Titans won the toss and elected to bowl
PLAYING XI –
Punjab Kings (Playing XI):
Prabhsimran Singh(w), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer(c), Marcus Stoinis, Suryansh Shedge, Nehal Wadhera, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal
Gujarat Titans (Playing XI):
Shubman Gill(c), Sai Sudharsan, Jos Buttler(w), Washington Sundar, Nishant Sindhu, Jason Holder, Rashid Khan, Arshad Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Mohammed Siraj, Manav Suthar
PUNJAB KINGS-
Priyansh Arya escaped a fortunate top-edge off the opening delivery but perished next ball, cutting a short delivery outside off to deep backward point where newcomer Nishant Sindhu held a fine catch. Cooper Connolly departed without scoring as Mohammed Siraj’s length ball nipped back sharply, catching a thin edge through to Jos Buttler. Kagiso Rabada troubled the aggressive Prabhsimran Singh throughout before claiming his wicket in the sixth over for a subdued 15 from 14 balls. Shreyas Iyer helped PBKS reach 35/3 during the Powerplay.
Jason Holder proved devastating with ball in hand. He induced Nehal Wadhera into edging a length delivery to Buttler, then dismissed Shreyas who played onto his stumps in the West Indian’s following over. PBKS suffered their worst start in two seasons of batting dominance, losing five wickets before reaching 50 runs. Their score of 51/5 after 10 overs marked the fourth-lowest halfway total in IPL 2026.
Suryansh Shedge provided the counterattack. He launched the innings’ first six off Arshad Khan on the second delivery of the 13th over, then targeted left-arm spinner Manav Suthar. Three maximums and two boundaries in a 27-run over propelled the team beyond 100 in 14 overs. An over later, he completed his debut IPL fifty in just 24 balls.
Rabada returned to remove Shedge, while Holder delivered a double-wicket over, dismissing Marcus Stoinis and Xavier Bartlett on consecutive balls. GT conceded merely 8, 8, 7 and 8 runs across the final four overs. However, the last over featured a battle between Marco Jansen and Rashid Khan, with Jansen smashing a straight six and an inside edge to fine leg for four before falling.
GUJARAT TITANS-
Arshdeep Singh struck early to remove Shubman Gill, but Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler combined effectively, reaching 58/1 after the Powerplay while staying ahead of the required rate. A post-Powerplay slowdown followed. Vijaykumar Vyshak dismissed Buttler in the ninth over, promoting Sindhu to number four. When Sindhu hammered Vyshak for six over backward square leg, it ended GT’s 28-ball boundary drought. During an absorbing middle-overs phase, Shreyas Iyer recalled Marcus Stoinis before introducing Yuzvendra Chahal. The Australian removed Sindhu in the 12th over, keeping Punjab’s hopes alive.
PBKS relied heavily on favorable matchups, seemingly reluctant to deploy certain bowlers against left-handers. GT responded by sending successive left-handed batters, with Sindhu’s departure bringing Washington Sundar to the crease. The equation of 61 from 42 balls still favored the batting side, but Punjab attempted to apply pressure. Sudharsan found boundaries off Chahal but fell to Vyshak in the 15th over.
GT entered the final phase needing 40 from 30 balls with Rahul Tewatia and Sundar batting. Bartlett delivered an excellent four-run over, leaving 36 required from four overs. Sundar released the mounting pressure with two boundaries off Jansen – an outside edge to third man and a characteristic scoop over short fine leg. Tewatia attempted another big hit but picked out deep square leg, bringing Holder to the middle.
Bartlett conceded a boundary to Sundar on the 18th over’s first ball but restricted them to three runs from the remaining deliveries. Arshdeep’s return left PBKS defending 17 from 12 balls. He executed his wide yorkers effectively, forcing Holder into a mistake. The tall West Indian swung hard toward mid-wicket where Connolly covered ground brilliantly to complete an outstanding diving catch.
Defending 11 runs, Marcus Stoinis began the final over poorly. The target reduced to 4 from 4 balls as tension filled the stadium, then became 3 from 2. Stoinis missed his yorker length, allowing Sundar to scoop a full-toss over deep backward square for the death overs’ only six.
Brief Scores:
Punjab Kings 163/9 in 20 overs [Suryansh Shedge 57 (29), Marcus Stoinis 40 (31); Jason Holder 4-24, Kagiso Rabada 2-22, Mohammed Siraj 2-28] lost to Gujarat Titans 167/6 in 19.5 overs [Sai Sudharsan 57 (41), Washington Sundar 40* (23); Arshdeep Singh 2-24, Vijaykumar Vyshak 2-31] by 6 wickets.
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