In a move that left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads, Gujarat Titans (GT) made the unexpected decision to substitute their skipper, Shubman Gill, during their IPL clash against Rajasthan Royals (RR). The towering pace veteran Ishant Sharma stepped in as the impact player, but the strategy backfired spectacularly. RR, riding high on Vaibhav Suryavanshi’s breathtaking century (101 off just 38 balls), chased down GT’s imposing 210-run target with ease, sealing the win in 15.5 overs with eight wickets to spare.
The substitution left GT supporters in disbelief, especially after Gill’s stellar performance with the bat. The captain had earlier dazzled with a blazing 84 off 50 deliveries, striking at an impressive rate of 168.00. However, before RR’s dynamic duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Suryavanshi launched their assault, Gill was replaced by Sharma, leaving Rashid Khan to take the reins as stand-in captain.
Shubman Gill Opens Up About the Substitution
Postmatch, Gill shed light on the puzzling decision during a chat with the broadcasters. “I sat out because I felt a back spasm,” he revealed. “I didn’t want to take any risks. Our next match is in Ahmedabad, where we’ve had a solid run. It was Suryavanshi’s day, and his hitting was simply phenomenal.”
Reflecting on the match, Gill acknowledged RR’s dominance. “They took the game away from us in the powerplay, and credit to them for that execution. There are always areas we could have improved, but it’s easy to say that in hindsight. We had a few chances that didn’t go our way.”
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