"It was truly captain's knock": Kumble praises Shubman Gill for century against RR
New Delhi, May 30
Shubman Gill played a captain's knock in the must-win game against Rajasthan Royals and led his side to its third IPL final in the last five years.
Gill made 104 off 53 balls, including 15 fours and three sixes, which helped GT chase down a 215-run target successfully with eight balls and seven wickets to spare.
Gill added 167 runs for the first wicket with Sai Sudharsan, and former India spinner Anil Kumble praised him for his knock.
Speaking on JioHotstar's 'Google Search AI Mode Match Centre Live', JioStar expert Kumble heaped praise on Gill for his Captain's innings in a knockout game.
"It was clinical. The way he approached his batting, you could see that he was really switched on and wanted to get to that final. He would obviously have been disappointed with the performance against RCB in Qualifier 1. But the way he batted, he just took the bowlers on. As Sai Sudharsan mentioned, they wanted to go hard in the first over, make a statement, and then continue from there," said Kumble.
"The way Shubman batted, not just against the fast bowlers but even against spin, was outstanding. He used his feet brilliantly against Ravindra Jadeja. It was a chanceless, classic innings, a typical Shubman innings. To reach a final with a hundred, it was truly a captain's knock," he added.
After GT put RR to bat first, a fine knock from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (96 in 47 balls, with eight fours and seven sixes) and a cameo from Donovan Ferreira (38* in 11 balls, with two fours and four sixes) took the Royals to 214/6 in 20 overs.
Later in the chase of 215 runs, skipper Shubman Gill (104 in 53 balls, with 15 fours and three sixes) and his 167-run stand with Sai Sudharsan (58 in 32 balls, with eight fours and a six) set the platform for a three-wicket win.
This was the highest target chased in the IPL playoffs, outdoing the target of 204 chased by Punjab Kings (PBKS) against Mumbai Indians (MI) in last year's Qualifier two. This is also GT's highest IPL run-chase, outdoing their 204-run chase against Delhi Capitals (DC) in 2025.
Now, RR will clash with RCB in a 'Royal Clash' for the title. Former India cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin looked ahead to the IPL 2026 final between RCB and GT.
"The two most consistent teams have reached the final. Both finished on 18 points after the league stage, so they deserve to be there. I have always said that GT have been the surprise package for me. I never expected them to have the strength to reach the final. I still feel it's 50-50. But if GT win this time, and you must have heard about 'Money Heist', this would be the IPL heist," said Ashwin.
— ANI
Reader Comments
That partnership between Gill and Sai Sudharsan was pure magic! GT's batting depth is incredible. But I feel RR's bowling, especially in the death overs, let them down badly.
What a match! Chasing 215 in a playoff game is no joke. Gill showed great temperament. But honestly, I think RR's decision to not use their spinners more in the middle overs was questionable. Ashwin's analysis about GT being the "surprise package" is spot on - they've played like champions throughout!
Both Gill and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi played unbelievable knocks! What a game of cricket. GT vs RCB final is going to be blockbuster. I just hope the final lives up to the hype of this Qualifier 2. 🤞
Gill's footwork against Jadeja was something special - using his feet so effectively against the world's best spinner in a high-pressure chase shows his class. This is the kind of innings that builds champions. What a player! 💯
I'm so happy for GT! They've shown such great team spirit. But I must say, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's 96 went in vain unfortunately - he deserved a century. Still, Gill's captain's knock will be remembered for ages. Excited for the final! 🏆
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