Shubman Gill is determined to take control of the Gujarat Titans (GT) batting lineup in IPL 2025, with a focus on maximizing their scoring during the powerplay overs.
In the previous IPL season, GT recorded the slowest run rate in the first six overs across all teams. Gill himself, while scoring at a strike rate of 131.08 in the powerplay, was among the slower scorers in this phase compared to other batsmen who scored at least 150 powerplay runs last year. After reaching the final in their first two seasons, GT finished eighth in IPL 2024, which was Gill’s first season as team captain. He now aims to set a strong foundation with the bat from the start.
“The goal is simple: score as many runs as possible while losing minimal wickets,” Gill stated during a pre-season press conference. “Last season, our powerplay performance and subsequent phases were not up to par. Our inability to execute our desired game plan in the powerplay and beyond contributed to us missing out on the playoffs.”
“As a batsman and now captain, I feel it’s my responsibility to ensure we capitalize on the powerplay. This is my primary focus, and I’m hopeful that we can correct the mistakes from the last season.”
IPL 2024 was notable for high scores, with eight instances of teams scoring 250 runs or more. However, Gill is cautious about assuming a similar trend for the upcoming season.
“We are not aiming to chase 300 runs routinely. Our strategy will be to assess the pitch conditions and match situations, and adapt our gameplay accordingly. If conditions favor a 240, 250, or 260 score, we are capable of that. Conversely, there might be scenarios where a total of 150 or 160 is sufficient on a more challenging wicket.”
“A key attribute of a successful team is adaptability to varying conditions and challenges. Sticking to a rigid, one-dimensional approach is not effective.”
IPL 2024 marked Gill’s first full season as a senior team captain. Prior to this, he had only briefly captained his domestic Punjab team. Since then, he has gained further leadership experience, captaining India during a tour of Zimbabwe and being named vice-captain to Rohit Sharma for tours of Sri Lanka and the 2025 Champions Trophy. This IPL season is seen as crucial for his development as a leader.
“My captaincy experience with Gujarat Titans surpasses my experience with the Indian team,” Gill commented. “The guidance I receive from coaches like Ashish Nehra and Vikram Solanki is invaluable. My first year as captain was a significant learning curve, revealing areas for personal and team improvement.”
“Having played under numerous captains, I’ve observed diverse leadership styles. I aim to integrate the qualities that resonate with me personally into my own captaincy approach.”
After an exceptional IPL 2023 season with nearly 900 runs, Gill began IPL 2024 strongly, scoring 255 runs at a strike rate of 151.78 in his initial six matches. However, his form declined, and he concluded the season with 426 runs at a strike rate of 147.40. Entering this new season, Gill emphasizes the importance of separating his batting and captaincy roles.
“Maintaining a distinction between batting and captaincy is beneficial,” he explained. “Ideally, I focus purely on my batting when on the field, making decisions as a batsman. The captaincy responsibilities come into play after my batting innings, or when we are fielding or off the field.”
Despite not reaching the playoffs in the last season, Gill draws confidence from Gujarat Titans’ overall IPL performance. They hold the record for the most wins (28) in the past three IPL seasons.
“Looking at our performance over the last three years, we lead in wins and win percentage,” Gill noted. “If we maintain this consistency, we are poised for another successful season. There’s no need for drastic changes simply because it’s a new season.”
“We have consistently played high-quality cricket for the past three years. Our focus is on continuing this successful approach.”
