Skipper Shubman Gill of the Gujarat Titans admitted that his team allowed too many runs in the middle overs, leading to a significant 99-run loss against the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium. Gill mentioned that on the given pitch, a score of 160-170 would have been more competitive.
Mumbai Indians set a formidable target of 199/5, powered by Tilak Varma’s remarkable unbeaten 101 off just 45 balls, which also matched the franchise’s fastest century record. Naman Dhir contributed with a solid 45-run innings, while Kagiso Rabada stood out for the Gujarat Titans with three wickets.
In pursuit of the target, the Gujarat Titans struggled from the start. Jasprit Bumrah struck on the very first ball, and Hardik Pandya dismissed Jos Buttler early, putting Mumbai Indians in a commanding position. Despite some resistance, the Gujarat Titans kept losing wickets at regular intervals.
Reflecting on the match, Gill acknowledged the need for improvement, stating that there were valuable lessons to be learned. He highlighted the upcoming away games as opportunities for the team to bounce back and return to winning ways.
The Mumbai Indians’ bowlers controlled the game, with Ashwani Kumar’s exceptional four-wicket haul leading the way, supported by Mitchell Santner and Allah Ghazanfar who both claimed two wickets each, restricting the Gujarat Titans well below the target.
Gill expressed that his bowlers struggled to adjust to the conditions, particularly the slower nature of the pitch. He emphasized the importance of consistent bowling lengths in the middle overs, which he felt was lacking in their performance.
Regarding the pitch conditions, Gill noted that the surface remained relatively consistent throughout both innings, with a slight improvement due to increased dew during their batting. The Gujarat Titans now sit in sixth place on the points table after this defeat, with three wins in six matches, and are set to face Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 24.
