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Former India and Kolkata Knight Riders batter Rohan Gavaskar has criticised the Gujarat Titans and their captain, Shubman Gill, for their slow approach in the team's loss to KKR on Saturday.
On May 16, GT lost to KKR at the Eden Gardens after winning five matches in a row. The Gujarat Titans had fallen short by 29 runs after conceding 247 with the ball.
KKR end GT's win streak
Shubman Gill and the Gujarat Titans' decision to bowl first didn't really go to plan. Finn Allen continued his aggressive ways and smashed 10 sixes in a 35-ball 93.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi made an unbeaten 82 from 44 balls, while Cameron Green also propped up the score to almost 250 with his 52 not out from just 28 balls. GT also suffered from a dreaded case of butterfingers as Allen was dropped twice, while Raghuvanshi and Green were spilled once each.
GT's template of relying on their famed top three of Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, and Jos Buttler didn't quite work out this time. Gill and Sudharsan started steadily, but Sudharsan had to retire hurt.
Gill kept the tempo up, but Sunil Narine was again at his restrictive best. Gill got together with Buttler, but their partnership basically kept playing catch-up. Narine got rid of Gill for 85, and Buttler too got his own fifty.
Sudharsan returned after Buttler got out and completed his fifty, but couldn't take his team to victory.
"Nobody had a good strike rate" - Rohan Gavaskar
Speaking to Cricbuzz after the match, Rohan Gavaskar said that the problem lied in the strike rates of the GT batters. Gavaskar said that even though three GT batters got fifties, none of them got them at an adequate strike rate considering the total they had to chase.
“I can clearly see the difference. If you really want to understand the difference in batting, then forget everything else and look at the strike rates. For KKR, Ajinkya Rahane was the only batter whose strike rate was around 100. Every other batter had a strike rate above 180. For the Gujarat Titans, only Sai Sudharsan had a strike rate above 180. The rest of the batters all had strike rates below 180," he said.
“So when you are chasing 240, it shouldn’t happen that not even one batter has a strike rate above 200. You want one or two batters to play impactful cameos. Even if someone scores just 25 runs, that innings should come at a strike rate of 200, 225, or even 250. Here, Sai Sudharsan’s strike rate was around 190, but no other batter had a strike rate above 180,” he added.
Shubman Gill's performance in IPL 2026
GT's captain, Shubman Gill, is currently second on the Orange Cap list with a difference of just 2 runs between himself and his opening partner, Sai Sudharsan, who is first.
So far, Gill has made 552 runs in 12 matches at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 160. He has also made five fifties.
Also Read: Shubman Gill’s savage Instagram post goes viral after GT get humbled by KKR in IPL 2026
Kartik Tyagi to Jos Buttler, 2 runs, Kartik Tyagi delivers fast ball at full length, Jos Buttler hangs in the crease and tucks it. But the ball is stopped by the fielder standing at the deep cover, limits Jos Buttler to just 2 runs.
End of over 16 (14 runs)
Sunil Narine to Shubman Gill, no run, Dot ball !! off break ball, good length, on the off stump, Shubman Gill hangs in the crease to the delivery, tries to defend it with full face of the bat, but the ball jags away at the last moment, beating the bat.
Shubman Gill c AS Roy b S Narine 85 (49) Sunil Narine to Shubman Gill, no run, c AS Roy b S Narine, Caught out !! off break ball, good length, on the stumps, Shubman Gill hangs in the crease, takes a big risk by attempting sloge sweep towards deep square leg, but unfortunately, the ball flies towards Anukul Roy, who displays excellent fielding skills to complete the catch, resulting in the dismissal of Shubman Gill.
Sunil Narine to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run, Sai Sudharsan goes back to take of good length aimed on the leg stump, executing a confident pull that sent the ball sailing towards deep square leg for 1 run.
Sunil Narine to Jos Buttler, 1 run, Jos Buttler hangs in the crease and plays a well-timed reverse sweep off an off break ball delivers at a good length by the bowler, but the ball lands safely in the hands of the fielder at deep square leg for 1 run.
Sunil Narine to Sai Sudharsan, 2 runs, Sai Sudharsan goes back and plays a well-timed cut off an off break ball delivers at a good length by the bowler, but the ball lands safely in the hands of the fielder at deep point for 2 runs.
Sunil Narine to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run, An accurately pitched arm ball on the off stump, Sai Sudharsan goes forward to make a confident push, sending the ball towards deep square leg for 1 run.
End of over 17 (5 runs)
Kartik Tyagi to Sai Sudharsan, Six, Six !! What a delivery! bouncer lands right on the stumps, Sai Sudharsan goes back, exhibits impeccable timing as batter hammers pull sending it flying to the deep mid wicket region for a remarkable Maximum!
Kartik Tyagi to Sai Sudharsan, Four, Four !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Sai Sudharsan elegantly hangs in the crease into the shot, gracefully guides it to third man region, the ball speeds away and finds the boundary rope.
Kartik Tyagi to Sai Sudharsan, no run, Dot Ball !! fast ball, fulltoss, on the off stump, and Sai Sudharsan hangs on and tries to hit pull, but misses it completely as ball beats the bat, goes to the keeper.
Kartik Tyagi to Sai Sudharsan, Four, Four !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump. Sai Sudharsan goes back, hits pull in the gap towards deep mid wicket, and ball finds the ropes in a flash for four.
Kartik Tyagi to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run, An accurately pitched fast ball on the stumps, Sai Sudharsan hangs in the crease to make a confident sweep, sending the ball towards point for 1 run.
Kartik Tyagi to Jos Buttler, Six, Six !! What a delivery! fast ball lands right on the off stump, Jos Buttler hangs in the crease, exhibits impeccable timing as batter hammers and sends it flying to the deep cover region for a remarkable Maximum!
End of over 18 (21 runs)
Saurabh Dubey to Sai Sudharsan, no run, Dot ball !! fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Sai Sudharsan goes back and dabs pull with soft hands, but the fielder is quick to react and thwarts the ball.
Saurabh Dubey to Sai Sudharsan, no run, Dot ball !! , yorker, on the off stump, Saurabh Dubey sends down a sharp delivery, Sai Sudharsan goes back to defend it, but mistimes the shot, beats the bat, leaving the batter confused.
Saurabh Dubey to Sai Sudharsan, 1 wide, bouncer, back of length, on the off stump, An attempted bouncer misses the mark and sails high over Sai Sudharsan's head, Umpire Calls it a wide.
Saurabh Dubey to Sai Sudharsan, 2 runs, Saurabh Dubey delivers fast ball at back of length, Sai Sudharsan goes back and tucks it. But the ball is stopped by the fielder standing at the deep mid wicket, limits Sai Sudharsan to just 2 runs.
Saurabh Dubey to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run, Sai Sudharsan goes back to take fast ball of back of length aimed on the off stump, executing a confident cut that sent the ball sailing towards deep point for 1 run.
Jos Buttler c (sub RM Singh) b Saurabh Dubey 57 (35) Saurabh Dubey to Jos Buttler, no run, c (sub RM Singh) b Saurabh Dubey, Caught out !! fast ball, back of length, on the off stump, Jos Buttler goes forward, tries a high-risk shot towards deep cover, but the ball finds safe hands of Ramandeep Singh, who makes no mistake in taking the catch. Jos Buttler is out.
Saurabh Dubey to Rahul Tewatia, 1 run, fast ball, fulltoss, on the off stump, Rahul Tewatia goes forward to make a room for himself and hits it towards deep mid wicket for 1 run.
End of over 19 (5 runs)
Cameron Green to Rahul Tewatia, 1 leg bye, Leg Bye !! fast ball, back of length, on the stumps, Rahul Tewatia goes forward, aims to slam it, but deflect off the pads. Batter steals a leg bye for 1 run.
Cameron Green to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run, fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Sai Sudharsan goes forward and chunks it towards the deep point for 1 run.
Cameron Green to Rahul Tewatia, 1 run, fast ball, full length, on the off stump, Rahul Tewatia goes forward to make a room for himself and hits it towards deep mid wicket for 1 run.
Cameron Green to Sai Sudharsan, Six, Six !! What a delivery! fast ball lands right on the stumps, Sai Sudharsan goes back, exhibits impeccable timing as batter hammers pull sending it flying to the deep square leg region for a remarkable Maximum!
Cameron Green to Sai Sudharsan, 1 run, fast ball, good length, on the off stump, Sai Sudharsan goes forward to make a room for himself and hits it towards deep mid wicket for 1 run.
Rahul Tewatia c A Raghuvanshi b CM Green 2 (4) Cameron Green to Rahul Tewatia, no run, c A Raghuvanshi b CM Green, Caught out !! fast ball, back of length, on the stumps, A risky shot choice by Rahul Tewatia as the batter goes forward to play pull, only to get an edge that goes straight into the hands of Angkrish Raghuvanshi for Rahul Tewatia's dismissal. Remarkable fielding display by the keeper.
End of over 20 (10 runs)