IPL 2023: Rashid Khan Takes First Hat-Trick Of Season In GT vs KKR Match

Rashid got the wickets of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur off the first three balls of his over to complete the hat-trick.

While the match seemed to be slipping away from them at the start of the 17th over, Rashid's hat-trick turned the match on its head. ( Image Source :Jio Cinema )

Ahmedabad: Gujarat Titans' stand-in skipper Rashid Khan has scalped the first hat-trick of the season in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

While the match seemed to be slipping away from them at the start of the 17th over, Rashid's hat-trick turned the match on its head. He got the wickets of Andre Russell, Sunil Narine and Shardul Thakur off the first three balls of his over to complete the hat-trick.

However, despite Rashid's hat-trick GT ended up losing the match, courtesy of some outstanding batting by KKR's Rinku Singh who smashed five sixes off the final five balls when the team needed 29 to win off six balls. 

Having said that, it should take nothing away from the leg-spinner's individual achievement who had brought the side back into the match with his fouth over. He first removed Russell who was adjudged not out by the on-field umpire but the Afghanistan star, who was leading the side with Hardik Pandya unwell, quickly opted for DRS which confirmed that the West Indian had got a thick inside edge on to the thigh pad before it was taken by the keeper. 

In the next ball, Rashid got Narine caught at deep midwicket before beating KKR's hero of last match Shardul Twho just couldn't read his googly and was hit on the pads right in front of the stumps.

Even though this looked-plumb, Shardul reviewed the decision but to no avail. At this stage, KKR were 155/7 in 16.3 overs and it looked unlikely that they will come out on top but Rinku's innings, one that will be remembered for a long time to come and one that could come back to haunt GT later in the league stage helped KKR taste their second win a row.

The three wickets by Rashid has also made him the current holder of the Purple cap with 8 wickets at an economy of 7.83.