Gill masterclass sinks KKR as losing streak hits six

Gujarat Titans held their nerve in a tight chase to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by five wickets in IPL match 25, with Shubman Gill’s composed 86 ensuring KKR remained winless after six matches.

Chasing 181, Gujarat finished on 181 for 5 with just two balls to spare. Gill controlled the innings throughout, blending fluency in the powerplay with calculated pacing through the middle overs to guide his side home.

Siraj and Rabada set the tone early

Gujarat’s victory was built on disciplined fast bowling that restricted KKR to 180 despite a strong platform. Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada extracted movement throughout the powerplay, making scoring difficult from the outset.

Siraj struck early, removing Ajinkya Rahane with a swinging delivery that forced a mistimed shot. Rabada followed up by dismissing Angkrish Raghuvanshi with a lifting delivery, before also accounting for Tim Seifert. KKR crawled to 37 in the first six overs, one of the lowest powerplay totals of IPL 2026.

Green’s lone resistance fades

Cameron Green produced the only substantial resistance for KKR with 79 off 55 balls, but his innings lacked sustained support. He struggled early, scoring 27 off his first 29 deliveries before accelerating during a brief surge when KKR added 52 runs between the 12th and 14th overs.

At 147 for 4 in the 15th over, KKR looked set for a total around 200. However, a sudden collapse saw them lose 5 wickets for 26 runs, derailing the innings. Green was left stranded at one end and lost rhythm late, scoring just four runs off his final 11 balls before being dismissed off the last delivery.

Despite his effort, KKR were bowled out for 180, a total that fell short given their position earlier in the innings.

Gill takes control of the chase

Gill set the tone early, scoring 34 off 15 balls in the powerplay with precise boundary hitting. Gujarat raced to 71 for 1 in six overs, with contributions from Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler providing momentum.

As the field spread, Gill shifted gears, slowing the tempo while ensuring Gujarat remained in control. He added 52 runs off 35 balls outside the powerplay, prioritising stability over risk as wickets fell at the other end.

Nervy finish exposes middle-order concerns

Despite a strong start, Gujarat’s middle order struggled to finish the chase comfortably. Washington Sundar managed 13 off 13, while Glenn Phillips found timing difficult on a surface offering grip.

Gill’s dismissal in the 17th over gave KKR a brief opening, and the required runs began to mount slowly. Entering the final over needing five runs, Gujarat lost Phillips early to Ramandeep Singh.

However, Rahul Tewatia ensured there were no further hiccups as Gujarat crossed the line with two balls remaining.

Match impact

The result extends Kolkata Knight Riders’ winless run to six matches, underlining persistent issues with both team selection and batting stability. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, continue to rely on a familiar formula of disciplined fast bowling and controlled chases, with Gill once again central to their success.

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