MI vs GT: Sunil Gavaskar Praises Shubman Gill's Captaincy With Player of the Match Award
The Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar named Gujarat Titans' captain Shubman Gill as the Player of the Match during their game against Mumbai Indians on May 7 in IPL 2025. This accolade was attributed to Gill’s significant contributions both with bat and as an astute leader in what turned out to be a closely contested match affected by heavy rains. His performance wasn’t solely remarkable because he emerged as the highest run-scorer; it also stemmed from his tactical acumen under challenging conditions.
After GT secured a three-wicket victory through the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method, Gill received the accolade for his standout performance of 43 runs from 46 balls on the difficult Wankhede track. However, more crucially, it was his calm assessment of the wicket and shrewd understanding of the bowlers' tactics during the first innings that significantly contributed to restricting MI’s score to only 156.
In the post-game ceremony, commentator Harsha Bhogle told Gill that Sunil Gavaskar, who was the official judge, chose him as the Player of the Match both for his batting skills and his astute leadership when facing intense pressure.
IPL 2025. MI versus GT: Key Moments
"When we took our turn at bat following the interruption, things became somewhat chaotic. However, achieving this outcome was quite satisfying. Our strategies differed during the powerplay due to intermittent rainfall. It seemed more akin to a Test match, so we aimed for regular gameplay. Continuous showers made it difficult to regain focus and continue playing," as stated by Shubman Gill.
"Lot of emotions. Most of them were frustrating because at one stage, we were ahead of the game. But one of those phases of play when we lost four wickets. Felt like a Test match. But we got one more chance and we got across the line," he added.
During a game halted twice due to rainfall, Gill’s strategic use of spin – deploying both Sai Kishore and an improved Rashid Khan – along with fast bowling from Prasidh Krishna effectively managed MI's progress in the middle overs. These decisions were crucial since the opposing team couldn’t gain traction on what was usually a batting-friendly pitch.
During GT’s intense pursuit, Gill’s collaboration with Jos Buttler assisted the team in surpassing the DLS par score following a sluggish start to their innings, which began when Sai Sudharsan dismissed MI’s Trent Boult early on.
Although the decisive moment arrived thanks to Rahul Tewatia and Gerald Coetzee, who successfully pursued the DLS-adjusted target of 15 runs in the concluding six balls, it was Gill’s robust innings and strategic acumen that set up the victory.
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