Shubman Gill, the Gujarat Titans (GT) opener has been slammed by all experts despite his half-century in the recent IPL 2023 match against Punjab Kings on April 13 in Mohali. Gill made 67 runs in 49 balls, reaching his fifty in 40 balls.
GT chased down PBKS’ total of 153 in the last over thanks to a four by Rahul Tewatia on the penultimate ball of the match with 4 runs needed off the last two balls. Despite a six-wicket win, captain Hardik felt the chase of 154 could have been wrapped up much earlier.
And now Sanjay Manjrekar has blamed Shubman Gill for the chase going down to the last over after Hardik’s complaint.
Thanks to Mohit Sharma’s 2/18, GT managed to keep PBKS on 153/8 with Matthew Short top-scoring with 36 runs. In response, Gujarat got off to a steady start with opener Wriddhiman Saha smashing five boundaries in his 19-ball 30.
But after an opening wicket partnership of 48 off 28 balls, Shubman Gill anchored the innings with his fifty, before departing with 6 needed off 4.
Manjrekar, pointed fingers at Gill for unnecessarily taking the game to the last over and also lashed out at the India star for not being able to complete the game and said that he should learn from MS Dhoni how to take the game deep and finish it.
“Champion teams are those who are mindful of their weak areas even when winning matches and tackle the same. Against KKR, there was a clear lesson for Gujarat that on the good pitch don’t play with only five bowlers.
From this game, the takeaway is that if a batter is set, he should try and finish the game in the 18th or 19th over. If you are taking it till the end, show a temperament like MS Dhoni and don’t get out. Shubman Gill might be asked how the game went to the 20th over. Sai Sudharsan scored at a strike rate of around 100. David Miller was also rather quiet," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.
GT will next host RR in Ahmedabad on April 16.
