Our Titans gave it their all in what turned out to be one of the best matches of TATA IPL 2023 against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium on April 9. There was a trailblazing half-century from Vijay Shankar and a hat-trick that took Rashid Khan up the ladder in a very elite list. Credit where it is due, a mind-boggling finish from KKR’s Rinku Singh took the game away from us. 

It has been a terrific start so far this season, with our batting department continuing their splendid record in run chases. While the usual stalwarts have been ticking important boxes, some new Titans have been stepping in whenever there is an opportunity, providing us that much-needed depth.  

Talking of numbers, we have now completed 10 successful run chases out of 11 times we batted second so far in TATA IPL, the best since the beginning of last season. Here are some other crucial numbers you must know that our Titans have achieved so far. 

#1 King Rashid Khan! 

 
 
 
 
 
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Rashid Khan picked up his first hat-trick in TATA IPL against KKR, which was also his fourth in T20s. He now has more of these trebles than any other bowler in the format. Andrew Tye, Mohammad Shami, Amit Mishra, Andre Russell and Imran Tahir have three hat-tricks each in T20 cricket. He also took his tally to eight wickets in three matches so far this season. 

#2 This year belongs to Shubman Gill! 

 
 
 
 
 
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It has been a year full of runs and records for Shubman Gill and on Sunday against KKR, he added another milestone in his kitbag. He became the second youngest batter in TATA IPL to complete 2,000 runs, a record bettered only by Rishabh Pant. 

#3 The first of (hopefully) many! 

 
 
 
 
 
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Courtesy of that thunderous finish from Vijay Shankar, where the Titans amassed 45 runs in the final two overs against Kolkata, we surpassed the 200-mark in TATA IPL for the first time. 

#4 Vijay Shankar loves our home ground! 

 
 
 
 
 
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Vijay Shankar smashed 63 runs off just 24 deliveries and remained unbeaten on Sunday against KKR. At the Narendra Modi Stadium, it is the highest strike-rate registered by a batter in a T20 innings (minimum 50 runs). 

#5 Strongest middle order in TATA IPL

 
 
 
 
 
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Since our very first match, our middle order batters have been a key to our success in many matches. Since the beginning of last season, our middle order (No. 4 to No. 7) have contributed 1,422 runs, the most in this time period. While our middle order averages 39.5 runs per batter, no other middle order averages over 30. 

#6 Shami-Shandaar! 

 
 
 
 
 
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Mohammad Shami completed 100 TATA IPL wickets in our opening match against Chennai Super Kings with the dismissal of Devon Conway. He has also been mastering the art of bowling in the most difficult situations and the numbers speak for it. Since TATA IPL 2021, he has picked up 18 wickets in powerplay (the highest) and 22 wickets in the slog overs (second highest). 

The season is only beginning, there are many more milestones approaching. The Titans need your support to do well, #TitansFAM, so make sure you back them when they take the field next against Punjab Kings on April 13.