NewKerala.com

Gill’s Blitz Helps GT Crush RCB in IPL 2026 Thriller

Shubman Gill’s blistering 43 off 18 balls led Gujarat Titans to a 4-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Match 42 of IPL 2026. Jos Buttler credited Gill for breaking the back of the chase early with an aggressive approach in the Power-play. GT’s bowlers restricted RCB to 155, with Arshad Khan taking three wickets. The win gives GT 10 points in five matches as they prepare to face Punjab Kings next.

Key Points: Gill’s 43 Off 18 Sets Up GT’s 4-Wicket Win Over RCB

  • Gill’s 43 off 18 sets up chase
  • GT wins by 4 wickets in 15.5 overs
  • Arshad Khan takes 3 wickets for GT
  • Buttler scores 39 off 19 balls
3 min read

IPL 2026: 'Gill broke the back of the chase early,' says Buttler after GT's win

Shubman Gill’s explosive 43 off 18 balls helped Gujarat Titans chase down 156 to beat RCB by 4 wickets. Jos Buttler praised the skipper’s aggressive start.

"He breaks the back of the chase very early. - Jos Buttler on Shubman Gill"

Ahmedabad, April 30

Gujarat Titans batter Jos Buttler credited skipper Shubman Gill for setting up the chase with an aggressive approach in the Power-play as the team beat the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru by four wickets.

Chasing a target of 156, the Gujarat Titans rode on Gill's blistering 43 off 18 balls to seal a four-wicket win in 15.5 overs in Match 42 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday. Buttler himself played a key role with a quickfire 39 off 19 deliveries, ensuring the momentum stayed firmly with GT.

'A really good batting surface. I think the bowlers deserve a lot of credit there. And one of the biggest differences for us was taking our catches today,' Buttler said after the match.

Despite the surface being conducive for batting, Buttler acknowledged there was some assistance for the fast bowlers early on.

"With the new ball, it did dip around a bit. There was a bit in it. Some fantastic bowlers on show. Siraj and Rabada have been great for us and obviously in the opposition as well," he noted.

Buttler revealed that GT planned to disrupt the rhythm of the opposition pacers, a strategy executed perfectly by Gill in the power play. "Shubman talked about trying to put them off their lengths because they're such good bowlers. So credit to him for going and doing that. When your leader goes out there and does exactly what he spoke about, so calmly, so clinically, against top bowlers, it gives a lot of confidence and breaks the back of the chase very early," he added.

Reflecting on his own dismissal at a crucial time in the chase, Buttler admitted he took a risk that did not pay off as he got clean bowled. "I got a bit greedy there. I had a big gap at mid-wicket and tried to expose that, but it was a nice piece of bowling from Bhuvi," he said.

Earlier in the match, Gujarat Titans' bowlers did well to restrict RCB to 155 in 19.2 overs, with Arshad Khan picking up three wickets, while Rashid Khan and Jason Holder claimed two each. Devdutt Padikkal (40) and Virat Kohli (28) were the main contributors for RCB.

Buttler emphasised the importance of the win as the tournament enters a crucial phase.

"Massive two points for us. We're in that scenario where we need to hold on to those guys ahead of us, and we play a lot of them as well. So it's a massive time in the tournament and a really important win today," he said.

With this victory, the Gujarat Titans strengthened their position in the standings with 10 points in five matches. They will next face the Punjab Kings on May 3.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Honestly, RCB's batting was disappointing again. Kohli got 28 but couldn't convert. Only Padikkal showed some fight. 155 was never going to be enough on that pitch. GT's bowling was disciplined though - Arshad Khan's three wickets were crucial. Need to see more from RCB's middle order.
A
Aman W
Respect to Buttler for admitting his mistake! 'I got a bit greedy there' - that's the honesty we need in cricket. Although he got out, his 39 off 19 kept the momentum going. Also, Bhuvi's bowling to him was top class. This is what makes IPL so exciting - quality players pushing each other. 👏
J
James A
GT's bowling unit is underrated. Rashid, Holder, and Arshad Khan - they complement each other well. Restricting RCB to 155 on a good batting track was a team effort. And that catch-taking difference Buttler mentioned? Absolutely critical. RCB dropped a couple and it cost them dearly.
K
Kavya N
As a RCB fan, this hurts. We keep losing these close games. Yeah, the pitch was good, but we needed our bowlers to defend 155. Siraj and Rabada have been great, but where's the support? And our batting - relying on Kohli and Padikkal every time isn't enough. Time to rethink the combination.
R
Rajesh Q
Gill's captaincy is really maturing. He leads from the front, takes responsibility, and then delegates well. The way he set up the chase was pure class. GT have a strong squad and with 10

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

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50