Washington Sundar Guides GT to Narrow Victory Over PBKS in IPL 2026 Match

April 04, 2026: The Gujarat Titans produced a composed yet dramatic chase to defeat the Punjab Kings by four wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, May 3. In a match that went down to the final over, Washington Sundar emerged as the hero with an unbeaten 40 off 23 balls, guiding his side to the 164-run target on the second-last delivery.

The chase was far from smooth for Gujarat Titans, as they kept losing wickets at crucial intervals. Despite having a solid platform at one stage, the middle-order collapse brought Punjab Kings back into the contest. The pressure peaked in the final over when Gujarat Titans required 11 runs to win. Arshad Khan played a vital supporting role by managing the strike smartly and rotating it at the right moments.

Facing Marcus Stoinis in the final over, Sundar showed great composure. After a boundary early in the over shifted momentum, the equation came down to three runs from two balls. Sundar then executed a confident scoop shot over fine leg for six, sealing a memorable win. The result marked Gujarat Titans’ third successive victory, significantly boosting their playoff hopes, while Punjab Kings registered their second consecutive defeat.

Sudharsan Anchors Chase as Middle Overs Create Tension

The foundation of the chase was laid by Sai Sudharsan, who played a calm and controlled innings of 57 off 41 balls. After captain Shubman Gill was dismissed early by Arshdeep Singh, Sudharsan stitched together a crucial 53-run partnership with Jos Buttler to stabilise the innings.

Buttler played the more aggressive role during the stand, scoring 25 and hitting a couple of sixes, including an audacious scoop. However, his dismissal while attempting an attacking stroke brought Punjab Kings back into the game. Sudharsan, meanwhile, continued to anchor the innings and brought up his third half-century of the Indian Premier League 2026 season with a composed effort.

After his dismissal, Gujarat Titans faced another setback as wickets fell in quick succession. The departures of key middle-order players, including Rahul Tewatia, added pressure and turned the match into a tense finish. It was then left to Sundar and Arshad Khan to take the team over the line in the final over.

A𝐖𝐖𝐖A DE! 💙 pic.twitter.com/ab6ZYaVzAz

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) May 3, 2026

Shedge and Stoinis Rescue PBKS After Early Collapse

Earlier in the match, Punjab Kings posted 163/9 after recovering from a poor start. Mohammed Siraj gave Gujarat Titans the perfect beginning by dismissing Priyansh Arya and Cooper Connolly off consecutive deliveries in the very first over. The early breakthroughs were followed by further damage from Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder, who reduced Punjab Kings to a difficult position inside the powerplay and shortly after.

At one stage, Punjab Kings were struggling badly, but a strong counterattack from Suryansh Shedge and Marcus Stoinis brought them back into the contest. The pair added 79 runs for the sixth wicket, shifting the momentum with smart shot selection and controlled aggression. Shedge was particularly impressive, scoring a rapid half-century off just 24 balls, including a remarkable over against Manav Suthar where he collected multiple boundaries and sixes.

However, just as Punjab Kings looked set for a bigger total, Gujarat Titans struck back. Rabada returned to dismiss Shedge for 57, while Holder removed Stoinis and other lower-order batters in quick succession. Late contributions from Marco Jansen helped push the total past the 160-run mark, but the target ultimately proved just short.

Gujarat Titans’ disciplined bowling effort combined with a composed chase ensured they came out on top in a tightly contested match, keeping them firmly in the race for the IPL 2026 playoffs.

IPL 2026 Points Table after GT vs PBKS