Cricket News, Gill’s tactical, Cricket Updates
Shubman Gill revealed the thinking behind a crucial last-ball decision as Gujarat Titans secured a dramatic win over Delhi Capitals in a tense Indian Premier League 2026 clash.
After a shaky start to their campaign, Gujarat Titans finally found their rhythm, but not without late drama. Delhi Capitals needed just two runs off the final two balls, and appeared to have the upper hand. However, a surprising moment unfolded when David Miller declined a straightforward single, keeping the strike for the final delivery.
Gill, captaining the side, said the team had carefully debated their options before the last ball. Instead of going for a yorker, they opted for a slower delivery considering the pitch conditions.
“We were discussing whether to go for the yorker or the slower one. Given how the wicket was playing, we felt a good slower ball would be difficult to hit for a boundary,” Gill explained.
The decision proved decisive. Prasidh Krishna executed a slower bouncer perfectly, beating the batter, while Jos Buttler completed a sharp run-out with a direct hit to seal the win.
Earlier, Gujarat Titans’ batting unit had laid a strong foundation. Gill, Buttler, and Washington Sundar all notched up half-centuries, powering the team to a formidable total. At 168 for 2 after 16 overs, a bigger finish seemed likely, but the Titans managed only 42 runs in the final four overs as the pitch slowed down.
Despite that, Gill believed the total was above par. “We thought 210 was 10–15 runs above par on this surface. Even in the death overs, it wasn’t easy to clear the boundaries. We were confident that disciplined bowling would get us through,” he said.
Buttler’s return to form was another positive for Gujarat. The English wicketkeeper-batter had struggled recently, managing just 87 runs in eight innings during the T20 World Cup and failing to convert starts in the opening IPL games.
Reflecting on his performance, Buttler said he remained confident despite the lean patch. “I’ve been searching for runs a bit, but I felt in good touch. If you’ve played long enough, you know it comes back at some point. You just have to keep working,” he noted, adding that the win was crucial in a tightly contested tournament.
With their first victory secured, Gujarat Titans will now look to build momentum when they face Lucknow Super Giants in Lucknow on April 12.
