NewKerala.com

Shubman Gill's 86 Powers GT to Third Straight IPL Win Over KKR

Gujarat Titans secured their third straight IPL victory, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets. Captain Shubman Gill led the chase with a brilliant 86 runs off 50 balls. Despite the win, Gill expressed disappointment at not finishing the game himself and earlier than possible. His performance also earned him the Orange Cap, surpassing Virat Kohli in the run-scoring charts.

Key Points: Shubman Gill Reflects on GT's Win, Eyes Improvement

  • Gill's 86 off 50 balls seals win
  • GT's third consecutive IPL victory
  • Gill takes Orange Cap from Kohli
  • KKR still searching for first win
  • Gill focused on mental and tactical improvement
2 min read

"Ideally we should have finished couple of overs before": Shubman Gill reflects on GT's win over KKR in Ahmedabad

GT captain Shubman Gill scores 86, leads team to victory over KKR. He discusses finishing games better and taking the Orange Cap from Virat Kohli.

"Ideally, we would have liked to finish at least an over, a couple of overs before - Shubman Gill"

Ahmedabad, April 18

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill acknowledged that while the win was important, there was room for improvement in how the chase was finished against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

He felt the team could have wrapped things up sooner and was personally frustrated at not being there till the end. Gill highlighted his responsibility as a finisher in such situations and expressed his determination to correct that in upcoming matches.

Gill's majestic half-century propelled the Gujarat Titans (GT) to a five-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Friday in Ahmedabad.

"Ideally, we would have liked to finish at least an over, a couple of overs before, and I was quite disappointed with the way I got out. I wanted to be there till the end and finish it. Hopefully, the next chance I get, I would be able to do that," Gill said after the match.

This is now GT's third straight victory in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), after wins against Delhi Capitals (DC) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). GT now have 6 points from 5 games in the IPL 2026. This propels them two places up the points table, into fourth position.

KKR is still finding their first win in the IPL 2026, with one point, the three-time champions remain at the bottom of the points table.

Gill shone with an 86 off 50 balls at the Narendra Modi Stadium, continuing his tremendous record in Ahmedabad. The GT captain smashed eight fours and four sixes as his side reached home in 19.4 overs in the chase of 181.

Gill also said he used his recent break before the 2026 IPL to focus on improving his fitness and strengthening his mental approach. He emphasised working not just on technical skills, but also on becoming sharper tactically and overall as a player.

"I got a couple of months before this. And fitness was one thing that I worked on. And apart from that, just working on the mental aspect of the game and trying to get better, not just technically, but tactically as well," he added.

Gill was named Player of the match for his brilliant fifty. With this, fifty Gill snaps the orange cap from Royal Challengers Bengaluru batting heavyweight Virat Kohli. Gill now has 251 runs in 4 matches, averaging 62.75, including three fifties.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Love his humility. Even after a match-winning 86, he's thinking about finishing the game earlier. That's a champion's mindset. His focus on fitness and the mental game is so important for a young captain. Future of Indian cricket is in safe hands!
R
Rohit P
Three wins in a row! The team is finally clicking. But Gill is right, the finishing has been a bit nervy. We lost a couple of wickets cheaply at the end. Need to work on that Net Run Rate, it could be crucial later in the tournament.
S
Sarah B
As a KKR fan, this is painful to watch. We keep getting so close but can't cross the line. Our bowling had no answer for Gill. He played a sublime innings. Respect to him for his performance, but I hope my Knights bounce back soon!
V
Vikram M
His record at the Narendra Modi Stadium is insane! He truly owns that ground. The way he's balancing captaincy and his own batting form is impressive. That said, I slightly disagree with his self-criticism. A win is a win, bro! Enjoy it. 😊
K
Karthik V
Good to see him talking about tactical improvement. Often our young batters only focus on power-hitting. Understanding game situations and finishing clinically is what separates good players from greats. He's on the right path.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50