Following a magnificent chase by the Gujarat Titans, Captain Shubman Gill summed it up best: sometimes, momentum finds its way to you. And on Thursday night in Ahmedabad, that is exactly what happened.
Leading from the front, Gill played a pivotal role in the Gujarat Titans’ four-wicket victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore; he later admitted that a touch of early luck laid the foundation for his match-winning innings.
Speaking after the win, Gill said, “It feels very satisfying. On a wicket like this, restricting a team of their caliber to 155 runs is a fantastic effort.” Shubman Gill had scored 43 runs off just 18 balls. He added, “I got a little lucky on the very first ball, and right then, I felt that today was my day. I was completely ‘in the zone’ and felt fully confident facing the bowling.”
Taking Advantage of the Early Relief, Gill Dictated the Flow of the Match.
That “lucky” moment occurred right at the start of the match against Bhuvneshwar Kumar, when an ‘inside edge’ saw the ball race away for a four; however, Shubman Gill capitalised on that stroke of luck in spectacular fashion. He quickly shifted gears and, adopting an aggressive approach during the Powerplay, piled the pressure on RCB.
Describing his mindset during the chase, he said, “After the second over, the team’s energy was incredibly high. I just had this feeling that I was completely ‘in the zone’.” Coupled with Gill’s aggressive intent, the brisk contribution from Jos Buttler and the composure displayed by Rahul Tewatia in the final overs ensured that Gujarat Titans remained ahead in the match, despite a brief wobble in the middle order.
Shubman Gill said, “Tewatia is a very important player for us. Our conversation during the time-out also included this. He scored some good runs, and everyone in the middle order got an opportunity to bat.”
