Gill's 43 off 18 powers Gujarat Titans to four-wicket win over RCB

Key facts

• Gujarat Titans beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by four wickets in Match 42 at Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.
• GT chased down the target of 156 in 15.5 overs.
• Shubman Gill scored 43 off 18 balls, setting up the chase.
• Jos Buttler contributed 39 off 19 deliveries.
• Arshad Khan took 3 wickets for 22 runs for GT.
• Rashid Khan and Jason Holder claimed two wickets each.
• RCB were bowled out for 155 in 19.2 overs.
• Devdutt Padikkal top-scored for RCB with 40, Virat Kohli made 28.

Gill's powerplay assault sets tone

Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill delivered a masterclass in aggressive batting during the powerplay, smashing 43 off just 18 balls to set up a comfortable chase against the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru. His innings included six boundaries and two sixes, as he targeted the opposition's pace attack from the outset. Buttler, who himself scored a brisk 39 off 19, credited Gill's approach for breaking the back of the chase. "Shubman talked about trying to put them off their lengths because they're such good bowlers. So credit to him for going and doing that," Buttler said after the match. "When your leader goes out there and does exactly what he spoke about, so calmly, so clinically, against top bowlers, it gives a lot of confidence." The strategy was to disrupt the rhythm of RCB's pacers, a plan executed to perfection by Gill. The early onslaught meant GT needed only 15.5 overs to reach the target, sealing a four-wicket victory.

Buttler's role and dismissal

Jos Buttler played a crucial supporting role, scoring 39 off 19 balls to maintain the momentum after Gill's dismissal. However, he fell at a critical juncture, clean bowled by Bhuvi while attempting to exploit a gap at mid-wicket. "I got a bit greedy there. I had a big gap at mid-wicket and tried to expose that, but it was a nice piece of bowling from Bhuvi," Buttler admitted. Despite his dismissal, the foundation laid by Gill and Buttler ensured GT remained in control. The team's aggressive intent in the powerplay was a deliberate plan to counter RCB's quality bowling attack, which included Mohammed Siraj and Kagiso Rabada.

Bowlers restrict RCB to 155

Earlier, Gujarat Titans' bowlers produced a disciplined performance to restrict Royal Challengers Bengaluru to 155 all out in 19.2 overs. Arshad Khan was the standout, claiming three wickets for 22 runs from 3.2 overs, including the key scalps of Rajat Patidar, Krunal Pandya, and Venkatesh Iyer. Rashid Khan and Jason Holder chipped in with two wickets each, as RCB suffered a batting collapse after a promising start. Virat Kohli gave RCB a strong start with 28 runs, but the team lost wickets at regular intervals. Devdutt Padikkal top-scored with 40, but no other batter managed to build a substantial innings.

Arshad Khan's growing IPL credentials

Arshad Khan's spell of 3/22 took his IPL wicket tally to 17 from 21 matches, at an average of 34.47. His economy rate in the IPL stands at 11.12, though his overall T20 record shows 34 wickets from 32 games at an average of 22.2 and an economy rate above 9. The 24-year-old's ability to pick wickets in the middle overs has been a valuable asset for GT. His dismissal of Rajat Patidar in the eighth over, caught by Jason Holder off a pull shot, triggered RCB's slide. He later removed Krunal Pandya and Venkatesh Iyer to finish with impressive figures.

Crucial win in tight standings

The victory lifted Gujarat Titans to 10 points from five matches, strengthening their position in the IPL 2026 standings. With the tournament entering a decisive phase, every win carries added significance. "Massive two points for us. We're in that scenario where we need to hold on to those guys ahead of us, and we play a lot of them as well. So it's a massive time in the tournament and a really important win today," Buttler said. GT will next face the Punjab Kings on May 3, while RCB will look to bounce back from their fourth loss of the season. The defending champions have struggled to build momentum, and their batting collapse against GT exposed vulnerabilities in their middle order.

Outlook for both teams

For Gujarat Titans, the win reinforces their credentials as a balanced side capable of chasing down targets with aggressive batting and disciplined bowling. The leadership of Shubman Gill, both with the bat and in tactical decisions, has been a key factor in their campaign. Royal Challengers Bengaluru, meanwhile, face an uphill task to revive their season. Despite a strong start from Virat Kohli, the team's inability to convert starts into substantial scores has been a recurring issue. With the playoffs race tightening, RCB will need to address their batting fragility and find consistency in the remaining matches.

The bottom line

• Shubman Gill's 43 off 18 in the powerplay was the decisive factor in GT's chase.
• GT's bowlers, led by Arshad Khan's 3/22, restricted RCB to 155 all out.
• Jos Buttler credited the team's plan to disrupt RCB's pacers for the early success.
• The win gave GT 10 points from five matches, strengthening their playoff push.
• RCB's batting collapse after a promising start highlighted their middle-order woes.
• GT next face Punjab Kings on May 3; RCB need to regroup quickly.