‘Rarely seen him getting out like that’ – Aakash Chopra on Shubman Gill’s dismissal against RCB

Aakash Chopra (Photo Source: Instagram/Aakash Chopra)

Aakash Chopra was surprised to see how Shubman Gill lost his wicket during Gujarat Titans’ (GT) capitulation against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Saturday, May 4 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

After Faf du Plessis invited Gujarat to bat first, the opening duo of Gill and Wriddhiman Saha struggled to get accustomed to the conditions. Saha was the first one to be dismissed as he lost his wicket to Mohammed Siraj in the second over. In his second over, the Hyderabad pacer dismissed Gill, who tried to whip away a ball over mid-on but only managed a leading edge that went straight to Vijaykumar Vyshak at deep point. Sai Sudharsan, who has been the most prolific batter for the Titans, perished in the final over of powerplay, as the visitors were reeling at 19/3.

Chopra noted that because of rains in the lead-up to the match and the pitch remaining under covers, there was some help for the pacers from the surface and Siraj exploited it to good effect. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Shubman rarely gets out the way he did against RCB.

“The Gujarat team lost the toss and they were invited to bat first. They scored 23 runs in six overs and three players got out – first Wriddhiman Saha, then Shubman Gill, and after that Sai Sudharsan. This was the slowest powerplay of this season. They had scored 30 runs and lost four wickets against DC,” the former India opener said on his YouTube channel while dissecting Gujarat’s batting debacle.

“It rained there in the last three days and the pitch was under covers. There was a little spice and Siraj used that spice to pick up two wickets. Both openers were dismissed. You can understand Wriddhiman Saha’s dismissal but Gill’s shot was upsetting. We have rarely seen him getting out like that. Then Sai Sudharsan, the epitome of consistency, also got out to Cameron Green’s ball,” Chopra added.

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After the first three wickets fell inside six overs, Shahrukh Khan and David Miller stitched a 61-run partnership off 37 balls to orchestrate a little bit of a resurgence for the former champions. However, they departed in consecutive overs and it pegged the Titans back once again. Rahul Tewatia played a handy innings but did not get support from the other end. RCB managed to bowl out a side for the first time in IPL 2024 as Gujarat were rolled over for 147.

“It’s not that wickets didn’t fall after that. Shahrukh Khan was there for some time and David Miller was with him. However, wickets fell again, whether it was Cameron Green, Yash Dayal, Mohammed Siraj or Vijaykumar Vyshak, and overall the team was all out. For the first time in this season, RCB got any team all out,” he said.

“There were two run-outs also in that. Virat Kohli made an excellent direct hit to get Shahrukh Khan out and one more wicket came as a run-out in the end. They also took good catches. Vijaykumar Vyshak’s catch was outstanding. Rahul Tewatia played a cameo but 147 was a very small total. The might is not being seen in Gujarat’s batting,” Chopra noted.

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Riding on a 92-run opening stand inside the powerplay between du Plessis (64 off 23 balls) and Virat Kohli (42 off 27 balls), RCB deflated the spirits of the Titans. Joshua Little bowled decently and took a four-for but the hosts eventually won by four wickets with 38 balls to spare.