NewKerala.com

Key Points

Shubman Gill silenced his former home crowd with a match-winning 90 against KKR at Eden Gardens. The GT skipper's elegant knock drew high praise from Ambati Rayudu who called it "pure cricketing strokes". Gujarat's third consecutive win keeps them atop the table while KKR's playoff hopes dwindle. Gill's masterclass proved why he's considered India's brightest batting talent in pressure situations.

Key Points: Shubman Gill's 90 powers GT past KKR as Rayudu hails masterclass

  • Gill anchored GT's innings with 90 off 55 balls against former franchise KKR
  • Rayudu praised his intelligent shot placement on tough Eden pitch
  • GT's third straight win solidifies top spot with 12 points
  • KKR slump to seventh after fifth loss this IPL season
3 min read

Shubman Gill's masterclass at Eden draws praise from Rayudu as GT extend winning streak

Gill's elegant 90-run knock against former team KKR draws praise from Ambati Rayudu as Gujarat Titans extend IPL winning streak at Eden Gardens.

"Incredible batting by Shubman Gill - pure cricketing strokes showing batsmanship on a sluggish pitch - Ambati Rayudu"

Kolkata, April 22

On a challenging Eden Gardens pitch that offered little to stroke-makers, Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Shubman Gill produced a batting masterclass to guide his side to a convincing 39-run win over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Gill's elegant 90 off 55 deliveries, studded with 10 boundaries and 3 sixes, helped GT post a formidable total that proved beyond KKR's reach.

Former India batter and JioStar expert Ambati Rayudu lauded Gill's knock, highlighting how the young opener adapted to the sluggish surface and turned the momentum in Gujarat's favour.

"It all started with Harshit Rana bowling those two wide deliveries--Gill was struggling a bit before that. But after that, he really found his rhythm," Rayudu said on JioHotstar.

"We saw some incredible shots--pure cricketing strokes. That slog sweep against Sunil Narine was especially impressive. It wasn't an easy shot to execute, and he managed runs all around the pitch. That shows batsmanship--boundaries along the ground, intelligent placement. It speaks to the quality he has, and the strength of the top-order partnerships. That's how you bat on a slow, sluggish pitch. Incredible batting by Shubman Gill," he added.

Gill, playing against his former franchise, looked in control once he got going, anchoring the innings with grace while accelerating at key moments. His effort laid the foundation for Gujarat's total, which was well-defended by their bowlers despite KKR's firepower.

The result marked Gujarat's third win on the trot, while KKR slumped to their fifth defeat of the season, further denting their title defence aspirations. As the league stage intensifies, GT's skipper continues to lead from the front--once again proving why he's considered one of India's brightest batting talents.

Coming to the match, KKR won the toss and opted to bowl first. A 114-run stand between Sudharsan (52 in 36 balls, with six fours and a six) and Gill, who went to score 90 in 55 balls, with 10 fours and three sixes, served as a solid foundation for a big score. Then a 58-run stand between Gill and Jos Buttler (41* in 23 balls, with eight fours) took GT to 198/3 in their 20 overs.

Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy and Andre Russell got a wicket each for KKR.

During the run-chase, KKR, except for their skipper Ajinkya Rahane (50 in 36 balls, with five fours and a six), failed to put up much of a fight as superb spells from Prasidh Krishna (2/25) and Rashid Khan (2/25) reduced them to 159/8 at the end of their 20 overs.

Gill was given the 'Player of the Match' for his knock of 90 runs.

KKR have slipped to seventh spot with three wins and their fifth loss, while GT maintain their supremacy at top with six wins and two losses, giving them 12 points.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rahul S.
What an innings by Gill! That slog sweep against Narine was pure class 👏 The way he adjusted to the slow pitch shows why he's considered one of the best young talents in world cricket right now.
P
Priya M.
GT's batting lineup looks unstoppable this season! Gill and Sudharsan's partnership was crucial. Though I do think KKR's bowling could've been more disciplined - too many loose deliveries.
A
Arjun K.
That 90-run knock was poetry in motion! The way he paced his innings was masterful. GT is lucky to have him as captain - leading from the front 💪
S
Sanjana P.
While Gill was brilliant, I think KKR's middle order collapse was the real story. They need to sort out their batting lineup quickly if they want to stay in playoff contention.
V
Vikram D.
Gill's footwork against spinners was a treat to watch! That's proper cricketing shots, none of those wild slogs. More youngsters should learn from his technique.
N
Neha R.
As a KKR fan, this was painful to watch 😅 But gotta appreciate quality cricket when we see it. Gill was magnificent! Hope our boys bounce back soon.

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

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50