Shubman Gill Blames Batting Failure for Gujarat Titans' Loss to Punjab Kings

Mullanpur  : Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill attributes their IPL opening match loss against Punjab Kings to a failure to capitalise on batting opportunities in the final overs, resulting in a below-par score.

Gujarat Titans' Shubman Gill top-scored with 39 off 27 balls in their IPL 2026 opener against Punjab Kings on Tuesday

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill blames the team's failure to accelerate scoring in the last five overs for their IPL loss.

Gill felt the Mullanpur pitch was capable of supporting a score of 210-220, but his team only managed 162 for 6.

Punjab Kings' Cooper Connolly's impressive batting display of 72 made batting look easy on the same pitch.

Shreyas Iyer praised Cooper Connolly's calm and composed approach under pressure during the Punjab Kings' successful chase.

Rain in the second innings made the ball wet, improving batting conditions for Punjab Kings.

Gujarat Titans skipper Shubman Gill said his side's failure to capitalise in the final five overs while batting proved decisive, as Punjab Kings outplayed them in their Indian Premier League opener in Mullanpur, Chandigarh on Tuesday.

Gill's side, despite boasting a formidable batting line-up featuring Jos Buttler, Sai Sudharsan and Glenn Phillips, could not capitalise on a fairly good batting surface, managing only 162 for 6, and the skipper later admitted that a total in the range of 210–220 was achievable on the wicket.

Punjab Kings' Cooper Connolly made batting look effortless on the same surface, producing a fluent 72.

Gill's Post-Match Analysis : "It looked like a 210-220 wicket. We thought 175 would be a good score, but we kept losing wickets and didn't score much in the last five overs," conceded Gill after the three-wicket loss.

"Once the ball got older, it was difficult to hit it down the ground," he added.

Gill said that batting became easier later on, as a drizzle set in and the wet ball made it easier for the home side.

"In the second innings, rain continued, making the ball wet, which slightly improved batting conditions. So I don't think it (ball) stopped as much in the second innings. But nonetheless, I think we did a decent job...all ifs and buts."

"Hard luck and it wasn't the game for us, but I think we did decently well. It's just, you know, keep getting better and keep adding more intensity and keep giving your best."

Iyer Praises Connolly's Performance : Cooper Connolly marked his IPL debut with a decisive 44-ball 72 on Tuesday

Punjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer said he was impressed by young batter Connolly's calm and composed approach.

"Some of the shots he (Connolly) played were surreal to watch, especially the one off Rashid (Khan)... I was focused on my hand inside, icing it, suddenly we lost two wickets back to back, these things happen in the IPL, you have to stay composed.

"Cooper was there, he was composed and calm...," added Iyer.