In a display of resilience, Shubman Gill stood firm amidst a challenging match as Gujarat Titans faced a heart-wrenching defeat against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Gill, who had been struggling to find form in IPL 2024, showcased his prowess with a dynamic captain’s innings, scoring an unbeaten 89, his first half-century of the season. Despite the loss, Shubman Gill‘s determined performance will be remembered, reflecting his ability to rise to the occasion when the team needed him the most.
Supported by impactful cameos, notably from Sai Sudharsan, who scored a rapid 33 off 19 balls, and Rahul Tewatia’s late contribution, Shubman Gill played a pivotal role in Gujarat Titans posting a challenging total of 199 runs. However, Punjab Kings, led by Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma, managed a remarkable last-over victory, overcoming the hosts’ efforts to secure a thrilling win.
Never easy to win when you drop catches- Shubman Gill
Following the match, Shubman Gill reflected on Gujarat Titans’ loss, attributing it to their lapses in fielding. He acknowledged that their sloppiness on the field was the deciding factor that led to their defeat.
“I think a couple of catches went down, never easy (to win) when you drop catches,” stated Gill.
“Bowlers did a decent job, when the ball is coming on to the bat, it’s difficult to defend, I wouldn’t say we were short (on runs). The new ball was doing something. 200 was good enough. We were right in the game till about the 15th over. always under pressure with dropped catches.”
When asked about his decision to choose Darshan Nalkande to bowl the crucial final over instead of the experienced Umesh Yadav, Shubman Gill stood by his choice and praised the young bowler for his performances in the season so far.
“With the way he’s (Nalkande) bowled in the last match and with 7 runs to go, it was a no brainer for us. People who you haven’t seen will come and play knocks like these and that’s the beauty of IPL,” exclaimed Gill.