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Gill Admits GT Fell Short in Final Overs After PBKS Defeat in IPL 2026 Opener

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill rued his team's failure to capitalise on a strong start, stating they fell 20-30 runs short on a good batting wicket against Punjab Kings. He pointed to the loss of regular wickets in the middle overs and a lack of runs in the final five overs as key reasons for their total of 162/6. Gill noted that rain in the second innings made the ball wet and slightly improved batting conditions for PBKS, who chased the target down with debutant Cooper Connolly scoring an unbeaten 72. Despite the loss, the skipper praised his bowlers, particularly Prasidh Krishna and youngster Ashok Sharma, for keeping the team in the contest.

Key Points: GT vs PBKS: Gill on Batting Failure in IPL 2026 Opener Loss

  • GT fell 20-30 runs short on good batting pitch
  • Regular wickets in middle overs stifled innings
  • Rain eased conditions for PBKS chase
  • Gill praised Prasidh Krishna and Ashok Sharma
  • PBKS won by 3 wickets thanks to Cooper Connolly's 72*
3 min read

IPL 2026: 'We didn't score enough in the last five overs,' says Gill after GT loss against PBKS

Shubman Gill says GT didn't score enough in last 5 overs after loss to PBKS. Read his full analysis and praise for bowlers.

"We kept losing wickets and didn't score much in the last 5 overs. - Shubman Gill"

New Chandigarh, April 1

Skipper Shubman Gill admitted that Gujarat Titans fell short with the bat and in the final overs despite a strong start, after they went down to the Punjab Kings by three wickets in their Indian Premier League 2026 opener at the PCA New International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.

Gill felt the pitch had enough in it for a bigger total, but his side could not capitalise. "I think we bowled overs. Batting, it looked like a 210-220 wicket. We thought 175 would be a good score, but we kept losing wickets and didn't score much in the last 5 overs. Once the ball got older, it was difficult to hit it down the ground," he said in the post-match presentation.

Gujarat Titans eventually managed 162/6 in their 20 overs despite a flying start from Gill and Sai Sudharsan, who had taken the team to 35/0 in three overs. However, regular wickets in the middle overs, including Gill's dismissal for 39 and contributions from Jos Buttler (38) and Glenn Phillips (25), prevented them from reaching a bigger total.

Gill also pointed out that conditions slightly eased for batting in the second innings due to rain. "In the second innings, rain continued, making the ball wet, which slightly improved batting conditions," he added.

Despite the defeat, the Gujarat skipper praised his bowling unit for keeping the contest alive, especially Prasidh Krishna, who picked up three wickets. "Bowling was good, and we can't blame them. I could've (on delaying Prasidh's introduction), but he came at the right time, took wickets, and kept us in the game until the 17th and 18th over. All ifs and buts, but he was bowling well in the nets as well," he said.

Gill also had words of praise for youngster Ashok Sharma, who finished with figures of 1-31, "For Ashok, he works hard on the game, he's a good find for us. I met him at one of our camps a couple of months ago. He is doing well and I hope he continues to do well," he noted.

Chasing 163, Punjab Kings rode on debutant Cooper Connolly's unbeaten 72 to reach the target in 19.1 overs, despite a late fightback from Gujarat.

Gill signed off with an encouraging message for his team. "I would say well done, boys. Keep up the effort and keep working hard; always show your talent," he said.

Gujarat Titans will now face Rajasthan Royals at their home ground, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, on Saturday.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Gill is being a good leader, taking responsibility and praising the bowlers. But honestly, the batting strategy needs a look. Why did we slow down so much? The pitch was good, as he said. Hope they learn from this before the Ahmedabad match.
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Aman W
That debutant Connolly played a blinder for PBKS! Sometimes you just have to tip your hat. Our bowling was decent, Prasidh was good. It's just the first match, long season ahead. Gill's positive attitude is important for the team spirit.
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Sarah B
Interesting point about the rain and wet ball making batting easier in the second innings. That's just bad luck with the timing. Still, 163 was defendable. The death bowling, except for Prasidh, seemed to lack a plan. Need to work on those yorkers.
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Karthik V
Good to see Gill backing the young talent like Ashok Sharma. That's how you build a team for the future. The loss hurts, but it's a marathon, not a sprint. Focus on the next game at the Motera! 🏟️ #AavaDe
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Nikhil C
Respectfully, I think Gill could have been more critical. "We didn't score enough" is an understatement. The batting after the powerplay was timid. No one took charge. Hope this is a wake-up call. The team has too much potential for such performances.

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