Another game, another player steps up for the Gujarat Titans: today, it was Vijay Shankar who spanked a jaw-dropping half-century against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) sending the fans and the crowd at the Narendra Modi stadium into a frenzied zone.
Fans could scarcely believe the ease with which Vijay hammered sixes to Lockie Ferguson and Shardul Thakur in the last couple of overs of Gujarat’s innings, propelling what was looking at 180 total to 204.
He got into the XI in place of Hardik Pandya, who was ill today and didn’t take the field with his deputy Rashid Khan leading the side today.
Shankar came in to bat at 118/3 in the 14th over. The platform was laid down for a big finish – which GT All Rounder duly provided – but fans had expected David Miller to come in at number 5. Vijay didn’t go all attack from the start and instead took his time but also didn’t let the run rate slip.
He was 22*(13) at the 18-over mark. And then came two overs which those who witness it wouldn’t forget in a long time. Some proper slog overs hitting it was from all rounder to the fast and furious Ferguson and the street-smart Shardul Thakur.
He first pulled Ferguson’s back of a length slower ball for four before a top-edge flew over the keeper’s head for a six and then he sliced a slower full ball over point for a four. He completed the over with a meaty hit down the ground for a six.
Vijay Shankar hit a hat-trick of sixes to Shardul Thakur
Pull over mid-wicket, loft over long-on, and slog over mid-wicket – Shankar slammed Thakur for a jaw-dropping hat-trick of sixes. With his first six to Thakur, Vijay Shankar brought up a magnificent 21-ball half-century, the fastest by a GT’s batsman.
Vijay Shankar’s assault in the last two overs led to a spate of memes on Twitter:
Vijay Shankar outside the selector's office pic.twitter.com/BDPlR990aZ
— Gagan🇮🇳 (@1no_aalsi_) April 9, 2023
Mujhe yakeen nahi ho raha hai maine 50 maar di hai – Vijay Shankar#GTvKKR #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/3OVu12n5qr
— Sachya (@sachya2002) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar goes berserk in the last two overs.#GTvKKR | #IPL2023 pic.twitter.com/ATwMq9wqVN
— Hemant Brar (@HemantBrar_) April 9, 2023
World cup this year and India facing no. 4 batsman problem
Vijay Shankar : pic.twitter.com/IihW71ltSf
— Anurag Dwivedi 🏏 (@AnuragxCricket) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar making runs in World Cup year
Surya Kumar Yadav right now: pic.twitter.com/HXNZ0vkSnJ
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) April 9, 2023
You open the scorecard to check scores & you see 63*(24) next to Vijay Shankar pic.twitter.com/zdvdF9jer1
— arfan (@Im__Arfan) April 9, 2023
63 runs in just 24 balls with strike rate of 262, strike rate of 262 for real……Vijay Shankar you traitor 😡
You deserved this punishment 🤬#GTvKKR pic.twitter.com/gfzuB35Vo0— TukTuk Academy (@TukTuk_Academy) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar 🤝World Cup year😭😂 pic.twitter.com/ZAuCV2NkJI
— Pulkit🇮🇳 (@pulkit5Dx) April 9, 2023
This man's magical powers have brought out a different Vijay Shankar to the IPL 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/B9suXfzODv
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) April 9, 2023
https://twitter.com/Jokeresque_/status/1645028984307216384?s=20
Watching Vijay Shankar's batting pic.twitter.com/ZzfaT8bUwa
— Sunil the Cricketer (@1sInto2s) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar entering dressing room after hitting hat trick sixes in lord Shardul Thakur over 🔥#GTvKKR #IPL2023 #KKRvsGT pic.twitter.com/JJyl8ozoAN
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar when there's a world cup year pic.twitter.com/lKCotojUWv
— Random Cricket Stats (@randomcricstat) April 9, 2023
Vijay Shankar and David Miller pic.twitter.com/cZbYn2SFaO
— Varun (@wizardrincewind) April 9, 2023
Vijay shankar 39*(18) pic.twitter.com/juJJUMWVf5
— Master (@arunkalyan5) April 9, 2023
