Kolkata (West Bengal) [India]: After guiding Gujarat Titans (GT) to a 39-run victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), skipper Shubman Gill shared insights into the team’s mindset and their strong start, while also noting they might have added a few more runs to the scoreboard.
The defending champions KKR faced yet another setback in their IPL 2025 campaign, falling to their fifth loss at Eden Gardens. Gill and Sai Sudharsan put together a brilliant 114-run opening partnership, laying the perfect foundation for a big total.
Match-winning knock ✅
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Cementing #GT's 🔝 spot on the points table ✅
Skipper Shubman Gill is the Player of the Match 🫡
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/TwaiwD5D6n#TATAIPL | #KKRvGT | @gujarat_titans | @ShubmanGill pic.twitter.com/SoEUhf1ea7
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Gill said:
“Very pleased. the talk for us earlier was that these two matches were going to decide where we stand on the table, so very happy with how they went. There is no such conversation (with Sai Sudharsan that one of us has to stay till the end), we want to play our best game, score as much runs, we never say that one of us has to stay in the end. We just want to bat deep.”
Gill, who was named Player of the Match for his stellar 90 off 55 balls (10 fours, 3 sixes), also reflected on the importance of closing games strongly:
“We were ahead in the game, but it’s important to close the game. Good teams close the game very well. In this format it is very difficult to have a perfect game, like even today, maybe 10 more runs if I had stayed there. But still, you have to find a way to win the game, and that is what we are really good at.”
GT, after being put in to bat, scored a formidable 198/3 in 20 overs. Sai Sudharsan contributed a fluent 52 off 36, and Jos Buttler added finishing firepower with an unbeaten 41 off 23 balls, which included eight boundaries. Gill’s attacking display in the middle overs helped GT dominate with the bat.
Also SEE : Gujarat Titans Trump KKR By 39 Runs In Dominant Display At Eden Gardens
Despite a steady bowling effort from Vaibhav Arora, Varun Chakravarthy, and Andre Russell, each picking up a wicket, KKR’s chase never found rhythm.
Only Ajinkya Rahane stood tall with a fighting 50 off 36 balls, but with consistent pressure from GT bowlers like Prasidh Krishna and Rashid Khan (both 2/25), KKR were held to 159/8.
The win cemented Gujarat Titans at the top of the table with six wins from eight matches (12 points), while KKR slid to seventh with three wins and five losses in their title defence.