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Former Indian cricketer Virender Sehwag has criticized Gujarat Titans (GT) captain Shubman Gill for his poor captaincy in their 11-run loss to Punjab Kings (PBKS) at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Sehwag believes that Gill’s decision-making, especially his bowling changes, lacked proactiveness and cost Gujarat the match.
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Sehwag Questions Gill’s Bowling Changes
Batting first, Punjab Kings smashed 243/5, thanks to a stunning 97 off 42 balls from skipper Shreyas Iyer and a blazing 44 off 16 deliveries from Shashank Singh. Gujarat, despite strong performances from Sai Sudharsan (74 off 41) and Jos Buttler (54 off 33), could only manage 232/5 in their chase.
Speaking on Cricbuzz, Sehwag expressed his disappointment in Gill’s handling of the bowlers, particularly his decision to remove Mohammed Siraj from the attack too early.
🗣️ Virender Sehwag on Shubman Gill’s Captaincy:
“I thought that Shubman Gill’s captaincy wasn’t up to the mark. He wasn’t ready, he wasn’t proactive. When Siraj was bowling well, he brought on Arshad Khan, who conceded 21 runs in the powerplay, and that over changed the momentum.”
“If Siraj is bowling well with the new ball, there is no point in holding him back for the death overs. And you see, he also got hit at the end.”
Costly Captaincy Mistakes?
- Siraj had conceded just 14 runs in his first two overs, showing great control.
- Instead of continuing his spell alongside Kagiso Rabada, Gill surprisingly brought in Arshad Khan, a medium pacer, in the powerplay.
- Punjab’s Priyansh Arya took full advantage, smashing four boundaries in the over, shifting the momentum towards PBKS.
Shreyas Iyer Shines in PBKS Victory
Newly-appointed PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer made a dream start to his leadership with a blistering 97 off 42 balls, hammering nine sixes and five boundaries.
Although he missed out on a century, Shashank Singh’s late fireworks (44 off 16 balls) ensured Punjab posted a mammoth total. 23 runs came off the final over, giving Gujarat an uphill task in the chase.
Despite a strong effort from Sudharsan and Buttler, Gujarat fell short by 11 runs, marking a disappointing outing for Gill as captain.
📌 Is Gill’s inexperience as captain hurting Gujarat’s campaign? Can he bounce back in the next match? Let us know your thoughts!
