Match overview
Gujarat Titans beat Lucknow Super Giants by 56 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 7 May 2023 in IPL 2023. GT posted 227/2 after Lucknow Super Giants won the toss and elected to field, and the chase never truly got going. LSG reached 72 without loss in their own powerplay, which kept hopes alive, but three middle-overs wickets and four more in the death overs ended their pursuit at 171/7. Shubman Gill was named Player of the Match. The result extended Gujarat Titans' head-to-head lead over Lucknow to 5 wins from 8 meetings.
The story of the innings was in the phases. GT's powerplay of 78 runs at no loss was the defining moment: it set a platform that allowed their middle order to score 98 runs in the middle overs at the cost of one wicket, and even with a relatively restrained death of 51 runs for one wicket, 227 was always likely to be beyond LSG. Lucknow's chase had a similar powerplay return of 72 runs without loss, but they could not sustain it. The death overs cost them four wickets and produced only 41 runs, a shortfall of more than ten runs per over from what they needed.
Venue and conditions
Narendra Modi Stadium has hosted 95 T20 matches, making it one of the most data-rich venues in the format. The average first-innings score across those matches is 206, and GT's 227 sat a full 21 runs above that. The average second-innings score of 196 means the venue does not historically discourage chasing sides, but targets of 225-plus move it into difficult territory regardless.
The powerplay average at this ground is 43 runs, which means both sides significantly outperformed it in this match: 78 for GT and 72 for LSG. Teams field first here 60% of the time after winning the toss, suggesting a widely held belief that the pitch quickens up during the chase. The chase success rate of 53% is broadly neutral, meaning neither outcome carries a strong historical lean; what tends to separate sides here is the death overs, where the average is 38 runs. GT scored 51 and LSG scored only 41, and it was that phase that decided the contest.
How to watch
IPL matches are broadcast live in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket. Streaming is available via Sky Go for existing subscribers and via NOW TV for those without a full Sky package. Most IPL fixtures, including this one, are shown live rather than on a highlights-only basis, so UK viewers can follow the action in real time.
Given the time difference between the UK and India, IPL evening matches in Ahmedabad tend to kick off at around 14:30 BST for afternoon fixtures and 19:30 BST for prime-time slots. Fans who miss the live broadcast can access full match replays through the Sky Sports app.
Recent form
Heading into this fixture, Gujarat Titans were in strong form. They had won four of their previous five matches in the 2023 IPL season, with only a defeat against Delhi Capitals interrupting what had been a dominant run. Crucially, their most recent result before this game was a win against Lucknow Super Giants, so they arrived at this match on a streak against the same opposition.
Lucknow Super Giants' form was patchier. They had recorded a no-result against Chennai Super Kings and a defeat against Royal Challengers Bangalore before beating Punjab Kings, losing to Gujarat Titans, and then beating Rajasthan Royals. The alternating results reflected a side searching for consistency, and that inconsistency showed again here: a fine powerplay chase that fell apart when the pressure intensified in the middle and death overs. GT's next assignment will come as they continue their 2023 campaign with the play-off picture taking shape later in the season.
