Gill, Sudharsan`s fifties steer GT to 196/3 against Kolkata Knight Riders

Gujarat Titans put up a solid total of 196 for 3 against Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL 2025 clash at Eden Gardens on Monday, thanks to commanding half-centuries from skipper Shubman Gill and opener Sai Sudharsan. The duo laid a strong foundation with a 114-run opening partnership that set the tone for the innings.

Gill appeared on course for his maiden century of the season but fell agonizingly short, scoring 90 off 55 deliveries. His elegant knock, which featured 10 fours and three sixes, ended when he attempted a swat-flick off a full toss from Vaibhav Arora, only to find Rinku Singh at deep square leg. Sudharsan, playing with similar composure, contributed a brisk 53 off 36 balls, his fifth fifty in six matches, before he top-edged a rising delivery from Andre Russell to the keeper.

Despite the promising start, GT lost momentum in the latter part of their innings. The final five overs yielded only 59 runs as KKR’s bowlers executed their plans to perfection during the death overs. Jos Buttler, who came in after Sudharsan’s dismissal, remained unbeaten on 41 off 23 balls. Although he struck eight boundaries, Buttler curiously did not clear the ropes even once, as the KKR spinners tightened the screws.

The middle-order suffered a further jolt when Rahul Tewatia, surprisingly promoted ahead of Sherfane Rutherford, was dismissed for a two-ball duck, adding to GT’s struggles in the final phase. KKR`s spin trio, Moeen Ali, Varun Chakravarthy, and Sunil Narine, were pivotal in stemming the run flow, collectively giving away just 96 runs across 11 overs. Chakravarthy stood out with a remarkable 14th over, conceding only three runs and applying significant pressure.

GT’s reluctance to take aerial risks was notable, they managed only five lofted shots in the entire innings, underlining the effectiveness of KKR’s disciplined bowling attack. Fielding lapses, however, continued to trouble the hosts. A key moment came when Vaibhav Arora dropped Buttler on 17, failing to hold on to a simple chance running back from mid-off.

KKR’s decision to bowl first saw them go wicketless in the powerplay, with GT reaching 45 for no loss. Four bowlers, including spinners Moeen and Chakravarthy, were rotated in the opening six overs, but the Gill-Sudharsan duo batted with restraint, ensuring a steady scoring rate without taking undue risks