Shubman Gill vs Josh Hazlewood: Gujarat Titans (GT), who came to bat first after losing the toss in the title match of IPL 2026, got a big shock in the beginning. When RCB captain Rajat Patidar won the toss and chose to bowl first at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, it was considered a mistake from the statistical point of view. But Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood gave a strong start to the team by sending Gujarat captain and star opener Shubman Gill to the pavilion in the very third over of the match.
Josh Hazlewood hunted Gill
This big match as a batsman proved to be a nightmare for Shubhman Gill, who is running for the Orange Cap. Not only was he out cheaply, but his old weakness against Josh Hazlewood was once again exposed. Josh Hazlewood, who brought the third over of Gujarat’s innings, put pressure on Gill with his tight line-length. On the second ball of the over, Gill tried to play a big shot, which proved costly for him.
Hazlewood bowled a short pitched ball outside the off-stump at fast pace. Gill came out of the crease on this ball and tried to play a big shot by getting in the way of the line of the ball. But the ball hit the upper part of the bat and floated in the air. RCB captain Rajat Patidar, posted at mid-off, took a brilliant catch while running to his right. Due to which Gill was out after scoring only 10 runs on 8 balls.
This is the first time Gill was in such a bad condition.
Shubhman Gill is considered a player in big matches. In all the IPL finals he has played before, he has always scored big for his team. This is the first time that Gill could not even touch the 20-run mark on a big stage like the final. Before this, he had played the final matches of 2021, 2022 and 2023. In 2021, he scored 51 runs against Chennai Super Kings, 45 not out against Rajasthan Royals in 2022 and 39 runs against Chennai Super Kings in 2023.
Shubman again looked helpless in front of Hazlewood
Shubman Gill’s struggle against Josh Hazlewood in T20 cricket is old. With today’s wicket, Hazlewood once again proved why he is the biggest threat to Gill. Against Hazlewood, Gill has scored only 59 runs on 41 balls in T20 cricket. At the same time, he has lost his wicket 3 times. During this period, his average is 19.67 and strike rate is 143.9.
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