Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) became two-time champions by defeating Gujarat Titans (GT) in the final of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 on Sunday, May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. There was a lot of expectation from GT skipper Shubman Gill who was coming after scoring a sensational century in the qualifier 1 clash against Rajasthan Royals.
Sunil Gavaskar reflects on Shubman Gill's rusty knock vs RCB
However, he failed to recreate his magic in the ultimate clash of the season. The GT skipper managed to score only 10 runs off eight balls and lost his wicket to Josh Hazlewood while playing a pull shot. Reacting on the same, former India icon Sunil Gavaskar has dropped his analysis on Gills' knock against RCB.
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In an interaction with JioHotstar, Gavaskar explained that Gill was looking to bat in the same way as he did in the Qualifier 2 clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR), where he smashed 19 runs off Jofra Archer in the first over itself. Gavaskar feels Gill wanted to play in the similar fashion against Josh Hazlewood as well, which made him lose his wicket.
"The way Shubman batted in the last match, they had hit Jofra Archer for 19 runs in the first over, there too he was going down the pitch and hitting. I feel he wanted to play like that against Hazlewood as well, but when Hazlewood uses his wrist, the ball bounces a little more," said Gavaskar.
Gavaskar further opined that Gill was trapped in Josh Hazlewood's variation and it's a part and parcel of the game as the same thing never works out like the previous times.
"Many times, the batters feel the length is short, but it's short of good length, from where it's not easy to play the pull shot. He played the same shot very well against Jofra Archer two days ago. It happens at times. He got out to his first mistake. Sometimes, you are lucky, catches are dropped, or the ball falls as the fielders aren't close," Gavaskar added.
Gill's spectacular season for GT
The GT skipper enjoyed a terrific individual campaign with the bat, amassing 732 runs in just 16 games, finishing the season as the second-highest run-getter in IPL 2026.
The stylish opener scored 732 runs at an average of 45.75 with an attacking strike rate of 163.2 with the help of six half-centuries and one century. He recorded his top-score of 104 off 53 balls against RR in the Qualifier 1 game. Notably, he managed to smash 74 boundaries and 33 sixes.