IPL 2025: GT skipper Shubman Gill plans to focus on the powerplay

The Gujarat Titans (GT) had a sensational start to their Indian Premier League (IPL) journey after they won their maiden title in 2022 itself which happened to be their opening season, wherein they defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) during the finals. Under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, the Gujarat Titans also finished as the runners-up in IPL 2023 having lost the grand finale at the hands of Chennai Super Kings (CSK). However, things did not end up on an impressive note for the Shubman Gill-led team in IPL 2024 where they finished at the eighth position with a total of 5 wins and 7 losses. Shubman has mentioned that his team will be focussing majorly on how to utilize the first six overs of the powerplay in the upcoming IPL 2025 season. 

Interestingly, the Gujarat Titans had the lowest run-rate of 7.72 in the first six overs of the powerplay during the entire Indian Premier League 2024 season. It is a fact that the opening duo of Shubman and Sai Sudharsan failed to maximise the powerplays as they had a strike-rate of 131.08 and 115.49 respectively during the first six overs. During a recent interview, Shubman stated that he is ready to take the full responsibility for not being able to take the advantage of the powerplay. 

"The plan is to score as many runs as possible, and lose as little wickets as possible. We did not do well in the powerplay or after that last season. We couldn't play the way we wanted to in the powerplay and even after that, and that shows in the fact that we couldn't qualify," said skipper Shubman Gill at GT's press conference. 

"As a batsman, it is my responsibility to bat in a way that allows us to maximise the powerplay. That is what I strive for, and hopefully, this time we rectify the errors from last season," he added.

Although Shubman Gill want his team to take complete advantage of the first six overs, he does not aims to put a lot of pressure on his players that they should score 300+runs in a 20-over clash. The Gujarat Titans skipper noted that he want the players to focus on their respective abilities, assess the conditions and play according to the situation in the upcoming edition of the IPL. Gujarat Titans will be kickstarting their IPL 2025 campaign against Punjab Kings (PBKS) on 25 March, 2025 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

"I don't think as a team we are trying to chase 300 as a total. That's not what our aim is. We will assess what the condition is and what the situation is, and we want to play that kind of cricket. If the wicket or the situation allows us to make 240, 250, 260 runs, yeah, we are not saying no to that, but there might be a situation where 150, 160 would be an ideal total on a wicket. Hence, if I feel as a team if you are only looking to play one way, then you're not adapting, and the hallmark of a great team is that it adapts the best to the suitable conditions and the challenges that are thrown at them," Shubman concluded.