One run here, then another – Gujarat Titans moved smooth under lights. Not every game needs fireworks; sometimes quiet thinking wins. Shubman Gill watched how the ball came onto the pitch before deciding pace wouldn’t rule the night. His men followed, building steady while others rush. When they batted, boundaries came slow but sure. That score? Just enough, guessed right. Eighty-two runs later, Sunrisers fell flat. The ground felt different early – cooler air, heavier grass – and only one side used it well. A skipper’s job isn’t shouting orders but seeing what few notice. He spoke calm after, not proud, just clear: 170 fits this field tonight. Others chase numbers; these players read moments.
“Definitely, like you spoke at the toss. Teams batting first have done well, and it worked out for us pretty nicely. But I think we bowled very well. 170 on this kind of a wicket, we always knew it was going to be tricky. If we bowl well, we’ll always be in the game,” Gill said after the match, giving rivals a clear message about his and his team’s preparedness to go the distance this season.
Out there, the GT captain said talks inside the locker room while batting focused on aiming for 160 to 170. Pushing for too much wasn’t the idea, given how tough the surface played.
“Yes, sir. We spoke about, if we get anywhere close to 160-170, I think it’s gonna be. It won’t be easy for them, especially with our bowling attack. So that was the chat in the middle,” Gill said
Midway through their innings, Gujarat found themselves on shaky ground. Then came Sai Sudharsan, steady at the crease, followed by Washington Sundar building something solid. Together, they nudged the score toward safety. That stand mattered more than most realized at first. Gill later pointed out how it shifted momentum, giving his side breathing room. His opening bowlers? They tore into Hyderabad’s big hitters right away. Hard hits early turned into quiet dismissals instead.
“Yeah, definitely. But also, I think the way Sai (Sudharsan) and Washi (Sundar) batted, getting us close to 170 at one point, it looked difficult to reach there. And also, the way we bowled in the Power-play, we have been bowling pretty well in the Power-play. So, kudos to both of our bowlers,” he added.
What sets GT apart, says Gill, isn’t sticking to one style but adjusting fast when needed – that knack for spotting what each moment demands. Most teams rely on routine; his group leans into awareness instead. Reading the game right matters more than repeating plays. That shift in mindset? It shows up most under pressure. Other squads prepare scripts. His players watch closely, then respond.
“Honestly, it’s all about still being consistent, still trying to be as ruthless as we can. And, you know, we play the kind of cricket, we are not the kind of team that play a particular style or brand of cricket. We want to be the team that sees the wicket and assesses the condition. If it’s a batting first, 240 wickets, go for it. But it’s also important to assess that the wicket is not that easy to get those 170-180 runs, that’s better than getting 140-150,” he stated.
What stood out was how Jason Holder kept pushing hard when it mattered. His bowling spell came at just the right time, shaking up SRH when they tried to build momentum. Three batters lost their stumps to him, each dismissal tightening the grip. Every one of his overs added weight, never letting the opposition settle into a rhythm. The way he held control across his full quota made a clear difference.
“Yeah, definitely. He’s such an experienced campaigner and the kind of length he’s been hitting, and he’s been very relentless for us, bowling almost in every game, four overs on the trot. Not easy in this weather, but he’s doing a terrific job for us,” Gill concluded.