'Shubman Gill's Captaincy Wasn't Upto Mark': Virender Sehwag Slams GT Skipper
Gujarat Titans were subjected to a thrashing by the Punjab Kings batters after opting to bowl first at their home venue.
Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag said that Shubman Gill’s captaincy was not up to the mark in the Gujarat Titans’ clash against the Punjab Kings on Tuesday, leading to the former’s 11-run win in Ahmedabad. Sehwag said that Gill wasn’t ready and proactive during his captaincy stint on the day.
Gujarat were subjected to a thrashing by the Punjab batters after opting to bowl first at their home venue.
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Sehwag said that Gill wasn’t perfect with his bowling changes and criticised him for pulling Mohammed Siraj off the attack way too early in the powerplay.
“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 I think conceded 21 runs in the powerplay and that over changed the momentum," Sehwag said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
“If Siraj is bowling well with the new ball, there is no point holding him back for the death overs and you see he also got hit in the end," Sehwag added.
Siraj had conceded 14 runs off his first two overs on his Gujarat debut. But instead of bowling a third consecutive over to continue his spell with Kagiso Rabada, Gill handed the ball to medium-pacer Arshad Khan.
Although he got the new ball to swing, he wasn’t spared by Punjab opener Priyansh Arya. The latter smacked four fours in the over to stamp the franchise’s authority in the powerplay.
Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer started his stint as Punjab skipper with a blistering 42-ball 97 not out as his franchise humbled Gujarat by 11 runs.
Shashank Singh bludgeoned 44 off 16 deliveries after Iyer’s brilliant display with the bat as Punjab posted a whopping 243/5.
In reply, Gujarat were stopped at 232/5, with Sai Sudharsan and Jos Buttler making a 41-ball 74 and 33-ball 54, respectively.
Iyer struck as many as nine sixes and five boundaries, but he couldn’t get to his maiden IPL century, as Shashank took 23 runs off the final over to end the Punjab innings on a high note.
Shashank smacked six boundaries and two sixes during his brilliant cameo.
(With PTI Inputs)
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