|| AFP ||

India opener Shubhman Gill starred in a six-wicket win for defending IPL champions Gujarat Titans over Punjab Kings in Mohali on Thursday. 

Hardik Pandya-led Gujarat were cruising towards victory until England all-rounder Sam Curran removed Gill for 67 in the final over of the chase to raise hopes for Punjab.

Punjab, captained by former India opener Shikhar Dhawan, could only score 153-8 after they were put in to bat by their opponents.

Curran, the most expensive player in tournament history at $2.23 million, tried to defend seven off the last off but Rahul Tewatia smacked the penultimate ball for four to win the game.

Earlier none of the Punjab batters managed to convert their slow and scratchy starts into a bigger score as they faced a very disciplined bowling performance from Gujarat. 

Former India pacer Mohit Sharma, who made his debut for Pandya's team, bowled tight lines and took a tidy 2-18 in a man-of-the-match display.

Sharma was well supported by Afghanistan's Rashid Khan (1-26), West Indies quick Alzarri Joseph (1-32) and Ireland's Josh Little (1-31).

Punjab lost Prabhsimran Singh for a second-ball duck and Dhawan (8) soon followed.

Australian Matthew Short steadied the innings with 36 off 24 balls before falling to Khan's spin, while Sri Lanka's Bhanuka Rajapaksa needed 26 balls to score 20 before Joseph took his wicket.