IPL 2023: Lack of partnerships created pressure on lower order, says Shubman Gill after loss against Delhi Capitals

Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill feels lack of partnerships created pressure on the lower order after their five-run loss against Delhi Capitals while playing at home at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday.

While chasing 131 runs, GT floundered in the run-chase as they could not keep up with the required run rate. The hosts kept losing wickets at regular intervals, which added pressure on them. Wriddhiman Saha and Shubman Gill were dismissed cheaply in the powerplay overs which put them on the back foot.

In fact, GT found themselves in troubled waters at 32-4 after 6.4 overs as Vijay Shankar and David Miller were also dismissed cheaply.

Hardik Pandya and Abhinav Manohar added 62 runs for the fifth wicket but they failed to score their runs at a brisk pace, which created pressure. Even though Rahul Tewatia played a little cameo of 7-ball 20, it was not enough to take GT over the line as Ishant Sharma defended 12 runs in the final over.

“The wicket wasn’t so bad. We bowled really well. We couldn’t stitch partnerships in the top order, which created pressure on lower order. The wicket was tough to bat, but with the kind of batting we have, chasing 131 shouldn’t have been a problem,” Gill was quoted as saying in the post-match press conference.

Meanwhile, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav conceded only 39 runs in the eight overs they bowled collectively and thus they kept the pressure on the opposition.

“DC spinners bowled well and it was difficult to hit boundaries,” Gill stated.

GT skipper Hardik Pandya had an off day at the office as he meandered to 59 runs off 53 balls and could not get the job done for his team.

On Pandya’s knock, Gill said, “As a player and a batter, we are all bound to have one off day. It was just one of those off days where he backed himself, which every batter should. He backed himself to hit those runs, but DC bowlers bowled some good yorkers in the end.”

GT will next take on Rajasthan Royals at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur on Friday.