Shubman Gill commenced his debut Indian Premier League season as a captain on a positive note, securing a solid victory over Mumbai Indians last week. In a face-off against former Gujarat Titans’ captain, Hardik Pandya, Gill’s team emerged triumphant with a narrow six-run margin. However, they faced a disappointing loss in their subsequent match against the reigning champions, Chennai Super Kings. Gill, who held the Orange Cap in the previous season, had a modest start to his batting campaign this season, scoring 31 and 8 against MI and CSK, respectively. With two games played, the Titans currently hold the seventh spot on the table and will look to climb higher as they encounter the formidable Sunrisers Hyderabad next.
Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Gary Kirsten, the Titans’ head coach, shared his thoughts on Gill’s initial stint as the team’s captain. Kirsten emphasized the significance of swift tactical decisions in the fast-paced T20 format, noting Gill’s learning curve in this aspect. Praising Gill’s leadership qualities, Kirsten expressed his admiration for the young captain’s approach and adaptability in his new role. Gill took over the captaincy reins from Hardik Pandya following his move to MI, and Kirsten highlighted Gill’s positive response to the added responsibility.
Reflecting on their heavy defeat against the Super Kings, Kirsten acknowledged that the Titans performed below par, impacting their net run rate. He emphasized the team’s need to perform at their best consistently and acknowledged the areas that require improvement. Kirsten stressed the importance of learning from the setbacks and focusing on enhancing their strengths to deliver better performances in the upcoming matches.
